Thompson's 32 points lifts Lumberjacks over UTRGV

Stephen F. Austin defeats UTRGV 66-57 in Southland Conference matchup

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks defeated the UTRGV Vaqueros 66-57 in a Southland Conference basketball game on Saturday. Keon Thompson scored 32 points for the Lumberjacks, who shot 37% from the field. UTRGV shot 40% but struggled with a cold start and 13 turnovers. Koree Cotton led the Vaqueros with 15 points and 6 rebounds.

Why it matters

The loss snaps an eight-game winning streak for UTRGV, who now find themselves in a three-way tie for third place in the Southland Conference standings. This game highlights the competitive nature of the conference race as teams jockey for position heading into the final stretch of the regular season.

The details

The Lumberjacks jumped out to an 8-0 lead early, but UTRGV was able to find their groove offensively at times. Stephen F. Austin shot just 22% from three-point range, but Keon Thompson carried them with his 32-point performance on 12-of-18 shooting. UTRGV was led by Koree Cotton's 15 points and 6 rebounds, while Jaylden Washington added 13 points. Head coach Kahlil Fennell felt his team came out "timid" and "on their heels", leading to the early deficit they couldn't overcome.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 16, 2026.

The players

Keon Thompson

The leading scorer for the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks, pouring in 32 points on 12-of-18 shooting.

Koree Cotton

The top scorer for the UTRGV Vaqueros, finishing with 15 points and 6 rebounds.

Kahlil Fennell

The head coach of the UTRGV Vaqueros, who felt his team came out "timid" and "on their heels" in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“I thought we came out timid, thought we came out on our heels and we put ourselves in a really bad position.”

— Kahlil Fennell, Head Coach (anjournal.com)

What’s next

UTRGV will look to rebound against Lamar on Monday as they try to climb back into a top spot in the Southland Conference standings.

The takeaway

This game highlights the competitive nature of the Southland Conference, where even the first-place team like Stephen F. Austin can be challenged by a squad like UTRGV that is fighting for position in the middle of the pack. The Vaqueros will need to show more toughness and composure if they hope to make a late-season push up the standings.