| MATCHUP | Incarnate Word Cardinals | UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 8-7 | 6-9 |
| Where | UTRGV Fieldhouse, Edinburg, TX | |
| When | Monday, January 5, 2026 | |
| Time | 07:30 PM EST | |
| TV | ESPN+ | |
UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros Preview
UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros have a 5-9 record this season and are tied for 10th place in the Southland Conference. They have a 3-4 home record and are coming off a 63-59 home loss against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Their previous three games were a 71-69 home loss against Nicholls, an 85-69 home loss against New Orleans and a 109-51 home win against College of Biblical Studies.
Offensively, UT Rio Grande Valley averages 75.2 points per game, while allowing 70.7 points per game defensively. The Vaqueros shoot with 46% from the field and grab 36.1 rebounds per game, while dishing out 16.1 assists per game. They average 2.6 blocks per game and 6.1 steals per game defensively.
Koree Cotton leads UT Rio Grande Valley in scoring, with an average of 11.7 points per game, while shooting with 39.9% from the field and 72.5% from the free throw line. Koree Cotton is also the team’s leading rebounder with 5.5 per game, while Jaylen Washington adds a team-high 3.0 assists per game.
Incarnate Word Cardinals Preview
Incarnate Word Cardinals have an 8-6 record this season and are in 4th place in the Southland Conference. They have a 0-5 away record and are coming off a 73-56 home win against Houston Christian. Their previous three games were a 79-70 home win against Southeastern Louisiana, a 90-66 home win against North American and a 69-65 away loss against TCU.
Offensively, Incarnate Word averages 82.1 points per game, while allowing 72.1 points per game defensively. The Cardinals shoot with 47% from the field and grab 36.4 rebounds per game, while dishing out 13.1 assists per game. They average 2.6 blocks per game and 6.1 steals per game defensively.
Davion Bailey leads Incarnate Word in scoring, with an average of 22.1 points per game, while shooting with 41.3% from the field and 78.1% from the free throw line. Harold Woods is the team’s leading rebounder with 7.4 per game, while Tahj Staveskie adds a team-high 4.9 assists per game.
Incarnate Word Cardinals @ Texas-Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros Betting Trends: January 5, 2026
Why the Texas-Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros will win
- The home team has won each of Incarnate Word’s last eight games.
- Incarnate Word has lost seven of its last eight night games.
- The home team has won the first half in seven of Incarnate Word’s last eight games.
Why the Incarnate Word Cardinals will win
- The road team has won five of Texas–Rio Grande Valley’s last six games.
- Texas–Rio Grande Valley has lost eight of its last 10 night games against Conference opponents.
- Incarnate Word has won the first half in each of its last four games.
Total Points Facts
- Nine of Incarnate Word’s last 10 night games against Conference opponents have produced a total of 144 or fewer points.
- Nine of Texas–Rio Grande Valley’s last 11 night games have produced a total of 150+ points.
Incarnate Word vs UT Rio Grande Valley Prediction
In this Incarnate Word vs UT Rio Grande Valley Prediction, Rio Grande Valley is coming as -1 home favorites. Incarnate Word has been the better team this season as they have a better overall record but have been winless on the road, while Grande Valley has been below average at home. Both teams are coming into this matchup in opposite trajectories, as Incarnate Word has three straight wins and is 4-0 against the spread, while Grande Valley has lost and failed to cover its last three games. Take the better team in better form as a road underdog, so take Incarnate Word and get the +1 point.