EDINBURG — UTRGV point guard Will Johnston expected the transition from junior college to NCAA Division I basketball to come with some challenges.
This time last year Johnston was suiting up at South Georgia Tech, a National Junior College Athletic Association Division I program in Americus, Georgia.
Johnston’s transition hasn’t been perfect, having games in which he struggled with protecting the ball and shooting.
On Wednesday, however, he exuded confidence on the court, erupting for a career-high 29 points to lead the Vaqueros past the Texas A&M Corpus Christi Islanders 89-92 at the UTRGV Fieldhouse in Edinburg.
Johnston finished with a 70% clip from the field, including shooting 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. He added 11 made free throws on 12 attempts, also dishing out three assists and nabbing two rebounds.
“I knew it was going to be a little different because I’m from JUCO,” Johnston said. “Coming into DI was going to be a bit of step up and a challenge. I feel like the first couple of games I had a few that I turned the ball over too much or I did some things well and other things I didn’t. I feel like I’m really putting my whole game together now. I’m having complete games, being able to score and getting my teammates involved. I’ve been able to play defense and limit turnovers. Those are the main things for me, and I feel like I’m really putting it together now.”
Johnston was one of two pivotal players down the stretch for the Vaqueros, with Justin Johnson scoring 13 of his 17 points during the final 10 minutes.
The senior forward nailed the go-ahead 3-pointer with 9:26 left to put the Vaqueros up 64-63, never relinquishing the lead again.
“As a leader I know I have to come through down the stretch,” Johnson said. “It was a tough first half with being in foul trouble. My teammates picked me up and coach got on me. I knew I had to make a play down the stretch.”
Johnston and Johnson combined to score 27 of the Vaqueros final 30 points during the last 10 minutes of regulation.
Foul trouble forced Johnson out of the lineup during the first half, joined by starters Dima Zdor and Ahren Freeman.
The issue led to UTRGV head coach Matt Figger turning to a two-guard lineup, with Johnston and freshman point guard Adante’ Holiman sharing the court during the final 10 minutes of the first half.
The duo combined for 19 points during that stretch, keeping UTRGV in the game and sending them into the break down only two.
“It was huge. I practiced those guys together more this week than in the past,” Figger said. “Usually they alternate, but I feel like two ball handlers, back in 2010 I was a part of a team that had two ball handlers and we went to the Elite Eight. They were two small guards and in games like that they were able to keep the pressure, so I felt like shifting to those guys tonight. We made some offensive adjustments that will probably try to help our team down the road.”
The victory improves the Vaqueros to 5-0 in the RGV, picking up three wins at the UTRGV Fieldhouse and a pair of wins at Bert Ogden Arena.
The Vaqueros (5-3) hit the road for their next contest, taking on the Western Illinois Leathernecks at Western Hall in Macomb, Illinois.
