N'Western St defeats UT Rio Grande 64-63
Thrilling Conference Battle: N'Western St Edges Out UT Rio Grande 64-63
In a heart-stopping conference showdown, N'Western St emerged victorious at home, edging out visiting UT Rio Grande by a mere point, 64-63.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to gain a decisive advantage until the final minutes. At halftime, the score was knotted at 28-28, setting the stage for an intense second half.
As the clock ticked down, N'Western St's Micah Thomas led the charge, scoring 17 points on 2-of-6 three-point attempts and 23.1% shooting from the field. His consistent production helped offset a lackluster effort by his teammates.
For UT Rio Grande, Filip Brankovic was the primary scorer, dropping 19 points on 3-of-6 three-point attempts and an impressive 60.0% field goal percentage. Despite his standout performance, the visiting team struggled to find consistency on both ends of the court.
The largest lead of the game came when N'Western St's Willie Williams scored two points, making it a one-point contest with just over 3 minutes remaining. UT Rio Grande responded with a pair of free throws by Jaylen Washington to cut the deficit to 1 point.
In the end, Thomas's clutch shooting proved decisive for N'Western St. He hit a three-pointer with 10 seconds left to put his team up by two points. When the buzzer sounded, the crowd erupted in celebration as N'Western St secured a thrilling 64-63 victory over UT Rio Grande.
The win marked a significant statement from N'Western St, which improved its chances of securing a spot among the top contenders in conference play. Meanwhile, UT Rio Grande dropped its fourth straight game and fell to 2-4 on the season.
Key Stats
* N'Western St's Micah Thomas led all scorers with 17 points.
* Willie Williams contributed 8 rebounds and 14 points for N'Western St.
* Filip Brankovic scored 19 points for UT Rio Grande, but shot just 60.0% from the field.
The game will be remembered as a thrilling conference battle that came down to the wire, with N'Western St emerging victorious thanks to the clutch shooting of Micah Thomas.