KINGSVILLE, TEXAS – Incarnate Word’s Pierce Caldwell, a long-time nemesis of the Texas A&M-Kingsville men’s basketball team, had a chance to win the game on Sunday, but his long distance three-point attempt fell short at the buzzer.  The Javelinas won the game 68-66 at Kingsville Hampton Inn Court to even up the score for an earlier loss to the Cardinals this year.  (box score)

The Javelinas (7-2) held a two-point lead at half time and held onto it for the majority of the second half.  The Cardinals (5-3) briefly held the lead on four occasions as the lead changed hands eight times in a three minute span early in the second half.

The Hoggies bumped their lead to eight points with 5:01 remaining in the game when Flavio Milam (Killeen/Ellison HS) hit Royce Gaye (Houston/Klein HS) with a nice backdoor pass for an easy lay-up.  The Javs still held a five point lead with under a minute to go before Caldwell hit four straight free throws to make it a 66-65 game with 15 seconds left.

Hoggie point guard Antwan Mullins (Katy/Cinco Ranch HS) was fouled immediately on the in bounds pass and calmly sank both ends of a 1-and-1.  The Cards quickly moved the ball down the court and Eric Stewart drew a foul with seven seconds left, but could only make 1-of-2.

After the Javelinas missed the front end of a 1-and-1 the Cardinals called time out with 2.7 seconds left near midcourt.  The play called for Caldwell to pop open at the top of the key, but good defense by Gaye and a poor pass forced him to catch the ball closer to half court and he had to fire from 30-feet out.  The shot fell short.

The Javelinas had three players score in double figures.  Milam led the way with 17 points, nine rebounds and three steals while going a perfect 6-for-6 from the foul line.  Mullins added 15 points, six boards, three assists and three steals while Ryan Wallace (Spring/Tomball HS) added 14 points and eight boards.  The Hogs shot 42.1 percent from the field, made 5-of-12 three-point attempts and were 15-for-18 at the foul line.  They pulled down three more rebounds than the Cards and committed the same number of turnovers, 14.

The Cardinals also had three players score in double figures.  Caldwell led all scorers with 21 points and six boards.  He went 8-for-8 at the foul line and drained a trio of three-pointers.  Stewart finished with 13 points and three steals while Shaun Umeh added 10 points.  Deleon Hines led all players with 10 rebounds and contributed nine points.  The Cards shot 42.9 percent from the floor, made 3-of-12 three-pointers and were 15-for-17 at the line.

The Javelinas are back in action on Saturday at home against Lone Star Conference North Division rival Southeastern Oklahoma at 4 o’clock.
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