RUSTON, LOUISIANA – The Texas A&M-Kingsville men’s basketball team nearly upset Louisiana Tech on Sunday afternoon in an exhibition game losing 72-71 at the Thomas Assembly Center.

The Javelinas trailed by as many as seven points in the second half, but took a 71-68 lead with 1:21 remaining in the game on an Antonio Banks (Grand Rapids, MI/Lee HS) jumper. The Bulldogs were able to pull off the win thanks to Brandon Gibson’s tip-in with 2.4 seconds remaining in the game. That came after Gibson he scored with 54 seconds left to pull the Bulldogs to within a point.

The Javelinas limited the Bulldogs to 34.8 percent shooting from the field, including only 5-of-31 from three-point range. LaTech was 0-for-17 from three-point range in the first half.

The Javelinas shot 45.3 percent from the field and were 6-of-16 from three-point range. Robert Williams (Dallas/Kimball HS) led the team with 20 points and five rebounds as he went 7-for-11 from the field and 6-of-6 at the foul line. Derryl Nash (Austin/Elgin HS) came off the bench to pour in 12 points in 15 minutes after draining 4-of-5 from three-point range. Banks and Marshall Bonds III (Little Rock, AR/Mills HS) each added 10 points for the club. The team went 17-of-22 from the charity stripe.

The Javelinas had 36 rebounds and committed 21 turnovers in the game. The Bulldogs had 41 rebounds with 19 coming on the offensive end and committed 14 turnovers.

The Bulldogs were led by Gibson’s 18 points and they had three other players with nine points apiece. Isaiah Massey came off the bench to lead all players with nine rebounds. The team connected on 21-of-27 free throw attempts.

The Javelinas open up their regular season on Friday in Laredo, TX when they take on UT-Permian Basin at 5 p.m.
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