Kingsville -- The Texas A&M- Kingsville men’s basketball team steamrolled to their ninth consecutive homecourt victory with a convincing 87-70 decision over the Cameron University Aggies at Kleberg Bank Court.
The Javelinas led by 26 at halftime, 52-26, and Cameron never got closer than 16 in the second half.
The win improved the Javelinas to 12-1 overall and 9-0 at home this season. Cameron, after winning five in a row, lost for the second straight time and fell to 9-4.
The Javelinas had three players score in double digits as Remi Yusuf, Bobby Pandy and Reggie Love led the Hogs in scoring and rebounding. Yusuf finished with 20 points and eight rebounds, Pandy had 14 points and 10 boards of his own while Love chipped in with 11 points. Wendell Mulkey had a season-high nine assists.
The Javelinas suffered no letdown after Thursday’s 88-77 win over #18 Southwestern Oklahoma.
“We just came out ready to go,” said Javelina head coach Pete Peterson. The guys were really focused. I’m really proud of them after that big game last Thursday.
The Javelinas shot 60 percent from the floor in the first half including nearly 70 percent from 3-point range, hitting 9-of-13 from beyond the arch. The Javelinas bench outscored the Aggies 42-20, while the Hogs out-rebounded them 53-37, their most of the season.
“I’ve never had a better first half than that this year. After the game on Thursday we had to play a different style. I thought we would be able to execute more of our stuff this evening. It was just great execution. Everybody really did play tonight because our legs were tired from Thursday.”
Pandy registered his second double-double in the last three games and is the team’s leading rebounder despite missing the first eight games of the season.
“Bobby Pandy was relentless on the boards,” said Peterson. “All I can say is you have to get a body on him.”
The Javelinas opened the game on a 6-0 run with Mulkey scoring two of the first three baskets and Stephen Story scoring the third. The Aggies didn’t sink a basket until Reid connected on a jump shot after 3:25 had elapsed in the opening period.
The Hogs continued on their tear, taking a 14-4 lead at one point and then extended it to 12 at 23-11 after Eddie Lopez sank a three-pointer with 12:30 to play in the first period. The Aggies’ Tisdale, Jr. responded with a basket from beyond the three- point mark on the team’s following possession.
The Aggies outscored the Hogs 9-6 over the next seven plus minutes to make the score 29-20 but Remi Yusuf would score four straight points to begin a 23-6 run over the final 7:08 to help the Hogs to a 52-26 lead at halftime.
The Aggies opened the second half outscoring the Hogs 18-8, cutting the lead to 60-44 with 11:56 to play. The Javelinas came roaring back to life as they went on a 12-4 run that gave the Hogs a 69-44 lead.
Texas A&M- Kingsville returns to action Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in Kingsville.
