Wichita Falls – Reggie Love scored a career-high 21 points as Texas A&M-Kingsville hit 14 of 29 3-point shots and pulled out a vital 82-79 win over first place Midwestern State at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.

   Love, making his first start of the season, made 7-of-12 3-point shots to key the Javelina attack. 

   Bobby Pandy had 18 points before fouling out, Rickey Huckaby hit 3-of-5 3-pointers and finished with 16 and Remi Yusuf hit 2-of-5 3-point field goals and had 13. Juan Lanauze and Kia Griffin also made 3-point baskets for Texas A&M-Kingsville.

   “It was a must win situation for us,” said Javelina head coach Pete Peterson. “I’m glad his (Love) family showed up tonight. Reggie did it for us tonight. He gave us a huge.”

   The Javelinas led by one at the half, led 51-46 with 14 minutes left when Love hit consecutive 3-point baskets to spark a 13-4 run and give the Javelinas their biggest lead of the game, 64-50 with 10:45 remaining.

   The Mustangs cut it to 67-61 when Love hit another big 3-point basket with 7:54 left to increase the lead to 70-61.

   The Mustangs cut the lead to a single basket three times, 74-72, 76-74 and 81-79, but could never regain the lead.

   They had the ball with 15 seconds left when Ralph Davis forced an off-balance shot from Drew Coffman, who led the Mustangs with 21 points, grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 12 seconds left.

   Davis, who hadn’t scored all game, hit one free throw, Coffman missed a wild shot on the other end and the Javelinas improved to 9-0 when scoring at least 80 points in a game. 

 “He switched off his man, got the rebound and I really knew he would make at least one of them,” said Peterson of Davis.  “It’s great for a senior that doesn’t play much.” 

   The Javelinas outscored the Mustangs 13-2 over the final 5:20 of the first half to take a 30-29 lead into the locker room.

   Texas A&M-Kingsville trailed 27-17 after the Mustangs put together a 9-0 run, but Reggie Love hit 3 consecutive 3-point baskets to cut the lead to 27-26.

   Rickey Huckaby hit a pair of free throws to give the Javelinas a 28-27 lead, their first since leading 12-11.

   MSU’s Chad Rickett hit a jumper with 10 seconds left to give the Mustangs the lead back at 29-28, but Wendell Mulkey drove the length of the court and hit a floating jumper in the lane to give the Hogs the halftime advantage.

   A&M-Kingsville led at the half despite shooting just 34 percent from the floor in the first half.

   The Javelinas hit 5-of-13 3-point baskets as Love and Bobby Pandy each scored 9 points.