STWF Sports | EDINBURG | Dec. 29, 2025 — New Orleans Privateers senior guard Jakevion Buckley delivered a career night when his team needed it most, pouring in a personal-best 32 points to power a composed 85–69 road win over the UTRGV Vaqueros on Monday night at the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
Buckley scored 22 of his 32 points after halftime, anchoring a decisive late surge as New Orleans withstood a second-half rally to secure the victory and improve to 2–1 in Southland Conference play. The Privateers closed the game on a 22–10 run over the final six minutes, reasserting control after UTRGV briefly made things uncomfortable.
The Privateers built a lead as large as 16 before the Vaqueros found their rhythm midway through the second half. Fueled by improved shooting and aggressive drives, UTRGV ripped off a 16–4 run to trim the deficit to just four points with 6:32 remaining. What followed, however, was a display of poise and execution from New Orleans. The Privateers responded by knocking down seven of their final 11 field-goal attempts, stretching the margin back to double figures and quieting the home crowd.
Defense set the tone early for New Orleans. The Privateers limited the Vaqueros to just 26.7 percent shooting in the first half, consistently contesting looks and clogging the paint. UTRGV managed only six points in the lane over the opening 20 minutes, struggling to find clean finishes against a disciplined interior defense.
After an evenly played opening stretch, New Orleans broke a tie with a decisive 12–0 run that flipped the game’s momentum. The spurt began with a Coleton Benson three-pointer and pushed the Privateers ahead 26–14 with just under six minutes remaining in the first half. From there, UTRGV was unable to cut the deficit below nine before the break, as New Orleans carried a 35–24 lead into halftime.
The Privateers wasted little time expanding that advantage in the second half. During a five-minute stretch early in the period, New Orleans shot 6-of-7 from the field, building a 59–43 cushion and appearing to take firm control. Buckley repeatedly punished defensive switches, mixing strong finishes with timely perimeter jumpers to keep the Vaqueros on their heels.
UTRGV refused to fold, however. Koree Cotton sparked the comeback with aggressive scoring, finishing with 24 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Filip Brankovic added 12 points as the Vaqueros shot an impressive 55 percent from the field after intermission, a sharp contrast from their first-half struggles.
Still, every push by the Vaqueros was met with an answer from the Privateers. Buckley delivered the knockout blows late, either scoring himself or creating opportunities for teammates as New Orleans methodically pulled away.
Inside the box score, Buckley’s efficiency stood out. He finished 12-of-20 from the field while adding five rebounds, four assists and two steals in a complete performance. Benson chipped in 12 points, while MJ Thomas provided a steady presence inside with eight points and 10 rebounds. As a team, New Orleans scored 50 points in the second half and shot 58.1 percent over the final 20 minutes, a testament to their offensive execution down the stretch.
The road win underscores the Privateers’ growing confidence in conference play and their ability to close games under pressure. With Buckley leading the charge and a balanced supporting cast contributing on both ends, New Orleans showed the kind of resilience that travels well in the Southland.
