Kingsville – Despite rallying from a 16 point second half deficit with an 18-0 run, the Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas fell at home to Tarleton State 58-55 at Kleberg Bank Court.

   The loss dropped the Javelinas to 15-6 and 2-4 in the Lone Star Conference South Division while Tarleton State improved to 15-6 and 4-2 in conference play.

   Remi Yusuf and Rickey Huckaby each had 11 points while Bobby Pandy added 10 to lead the Javelinas.

   Robert Hartfield had 19 to lead the Texans while Jeremy Gilbert scored seven of his 16 points in the final minute.

   The Texans started off the second half much they way they played the entire first half, hitting most of the shots.

   Tarleton State made 6 of its first 10 shots and led 48-32 with 12:09 left in the game.

   But the Javelinas caught fire and the Texans went in the deep freeze as Texas A&M-Kingsville put together an amazing 18-0 run to grab their first lead of the game at 50-48.

   The Hogs held the Texans without a point for nearly ten minutes as the Texans missed eight consecutive shots and turned the ball over seven times.

   Reserve Reggie Love keyed the rally with a pair of 3-point baskets and a steal as the Hogs came up with four steals during the run, the last keying a breakaway by Bobby Pandy, who missed the shot, but was fouled and the Texans who were also called for a technical.

   Remi Yusuf hit both free throws to tie the game and Pandy hit one of two to give the Javelinas their first lead of the game 49-48 with five minutes left in the contest.

  Yusuf hit one more free throw at the three minute mark to make it 50-48.

   But Robert Hartfield hit a 3-point basket with 2:47 left to break the scoreless streak and give the lead back to the Texans 51-50.

   Rickey Huckaby answered back with a jumper with two minutes left to five the Hogs a 52-51 advantage.

   Kia Griffin then blocked Hartfield’s shot with a minute and a half left, but the Javelinas failed to get off a shot on their possession and turned the ball over on a shot clock violation.

   Jeremy Gilbert sank a 3-point shot from the corner to give the Texans the lead back 54-52, the Javelinas missed a jumper on their next possession and Gilbert was fouled on a breakaway lay-up attempt with 14 seconds remaining.

   Gilbert sank both free throws to make it a two possession game.

   Huckaby hit a 3-point basket with two seconds left to cut the lead to one, 56-55, but Gilbert was fouled with less than a second left and made both free throws for the final margin.

   The first half belonged to the Texans as they took a 34-21 lead into the locker room.

   Tarelton State never trailed in the first half and led by as many as 17 points.

   The Texans led 17-11 midway through the first half when they put together a 13-3 run to grab a 31-14 lead with 3:18 left in the half.

   The Javelinas then began to battle back.

   Wendell Mulkey dropped in the team’s only 3-point basket of the first half, then the Javelinas stole the ball and Kia Griffin converted on a breakaway slam dunk. Bobby Pandy then scored off an offensive rebound with 14 seconds left in the half and it seemed if the Hogs would have the momentum heading into the locker room.

   But Jeremy Gilbert hit a 3-point basket as time expired to give the Texans the 13-point halftime advantage.

   The Texans shot 54 percent from the floor in the first half while the Javelinas were woeful, hitting just 27 percent of their shots. 

   Offensive rebounding kept the Javelinas within striking distance as they grabbed 11 offensive boards to just three of the Texans.