Hogs Too Tough for Dogs

KINGSVILLE, TEXAS – It was not the cleanest game a Texas A&M-Kingsville men’s basketball team has played, but it was good enough to pick up a win over visiting Texas Lutheran University on Sunday afternoon, 81-69 at Kingsville Hampton Inn Court. (box score)

Senior swingman Royce Gaye (Houston/Klein HS) and junior point guard Antwan Mullins (Katy/Cinco Ranch HS) led the Javelinas (2-0) with 17 points apiece. Gaye had an efficient 17 points making all six of his field goal attempts and connecting on 5-of-6 free throw attempts. He also grabbed a team high eight rebounds. Mullins scored all of his points in just 19 minutes of action. He led the team with three steals and three assists.

The game was tight for the majority of the first half. The Bulldogs (1-1) held a two point lead with 5:16 left in the first half when Michael Flores hit a jumper. The Hoggies unleashed a 13-1 run over the next four minutes and went into the break with a 39-31 lead.

In the second half, the Bulldogs closed to within five points on an Isaac Williams layup with 18:12 remaining. The Javelinas responded with a trio of three-pointers, including two by redshirt freshman Philip Belford (Corpus Christi/Tuloso-Midway HS).

The lead went back down to eight points after Brad Howard hit back-to-back three-pointers for the visitors en route to a game high 23 points, including five three-pointers.

Howard’s last three-pointer of the game made it a 72-61 Hoggie advantage with 3:03 remaining, but the Javs were able to salt the game away at the foul line by making 7-of-8 attempts to close the contest.

The Javelinas had five players score in double figures. In addition to Gaye and Mullins, Adan Montalvo (La Joya/La Joya HS) came off the bench to score 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting. Flavio Milam (Killeen/Ellison HS) added 11 points, eight rebounds and two blocks while Naquawn Lee (San Antonio/East Central HS) contributed 11 points, six rebounds and three steals.

The Javelinas shot 45.3 percent from the floor, made 7-of-16 three-point attempts and were 16-for-23 at the line. They pulled down seven more rebounds than the Bulldogs and committed two fewer turnovers.

After Howard’s 23 points, Malcolm Dotson added 17 points and five assists for the Bulldogs. Williams finished with 14 points in 18 minutes of action. David Price led the defensive effort with three blocks and four steals.

The Bulldogs shot 42.6 percent from the floor, made 6-of-14 three-pointers and 11-of-13 free throws.

The Javelinas are back in action on Tuesday at St. Mary’s for a 7:30 tip-off.
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