KINGSVILLE, TEXAS – The annual Senior Night for the Texas A&M-Kingsville men’s basketball team had a sour start on Wednesday night, but a sweet finish as Antwan Mullins’ (Katy/Cinco Ranch HS) lay-up as the buzzer sounded gave the team a 64-62 win over visiting Lone Star Conference South Division rival West Texas A&M at Kingsville Hampton Inn Court. (box score)

The Javelinas (13-13, 3-8) began the game slowly and found themselves down 26-16 to the Buffalos (14-12, 5-6) with 6:15 left in the first half after an Alex Davis lay-up. The Javs scored five quick points and then after the Buffs scored another basket head coach Pete Peterson took a timeout to refocus his team.

Coming out of the timeout, the Javelinas scored the next nine points of the game and went into halftime by outscoring the Buffs, 20-6 over the final six minutes.

In the second half, neither team was able to take control of the game. The lead changed hands 12 times and the score was tied up on five occasions. The last tie came when Hoggie forward Flavio Milam (Killeen/Ellison HS) picked up a loose ball in the lane and hit a jumper to make it 62-62 with 1:51 remaining.

With under a minute to play the Buffalos had the basketball. Nick Burns attempted a runner in the lane and could not get it to fall with 32 seconds remaining, but the Buffs grabbed the rebound. The Buffs worked the clock down and Burns had another good look at the hoop, but missed the shot. The rebound caromed long and Milam came up with it. He quickly passed the ball ahead to a streaking Mullins who laid it in just before the buzzer sounded to give the Javelinas the exciting victory.

For the Hoggies, the win gives the team a chance to extend their consecutive winning season streak to seven if they can beat Eastern New Mexico on Saturday on the road.

The Javelinas shot 52.2 percent from the floor, including 60 percent in the second half. They made 4-of-13 three-point attempts and were 12-for-19 at the foul line. Milam led the team with 15 points and eight rebounds while Ryan Wallace (Spring/Tomball HS) added 14 points. Naquawn Lee (San Antonio/East Central HS) and Royce Gaye (Houston/Klein HS) each contributed 10 points to the winning cause. The Javs committed 10 turnovers and forced the Buffs into 17 turnovers.

The Buffs shot 49.0 percent from the field, made 6-of-16 three-point attempts and were 6-for-10 at the foul line. Burns led the team with 15 points as he hit 5-of-10 three-point attempts. Joe Mincey added 14 points and four assists while Jacquiese Holcombe had 10 points and a team high seven boards. The Buffs outrebounded the Javelinas by a 35-20 margin.

The Javelinas finished the season 11-3 at home.
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