STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS – The Texas A&M-Kingsville men’s basketball team needed everything to go right order to get a win at #3 Tarleton State, but 29 percent shooting from the field led to a 63-52 loss in Lone Star Conference play on Wendesday night at Wisdom Gymnasium.

The Javelinas (8-13, 3-11) broke a scoreless tie in the early going with a Ryan Layssard (Opelousas, LA/Opelousas HS) jumper with 17:33 left in the first half. They would not make another field goal until Ashton Brown (Randolph, NY/Central HS) hit a jump shot with 5:54 left in the half.

Fortunately, the Javelina defense kept them in the game. Despite only two field goals in the first 14 minutes of the game, they trailed the Texans (20-1, 13-0) just 15-6. Tarleton pushed the lead to 15 points, before the Hogs pulled back to within 27-17 at the break despite making only 5-of-31 field goal attempts.

The baskets came easier in the second half for the Javelinas, but it worked the same way for the Texans who were able to prevent the Hoggies from getting an closer than seven points.

The Javelinas had a great chance with under six minutes remaining in the game to make it close, but could not get the hoops to fall. Trailing by 12, they missed a pair of three-pointers and a jumper all without allowing the Texans a point. Tarleton snuffed took advantage of the missed opportunities by putting the game away with a Shedrick Haynes three-pointer with 3:38 remaining to push the lead to 15 points.

The Javelinas shot 28.8 percent from the field, the fifth straight game they have failed to shoot at least 35 percent. They made 6-of-29 three-point attempts and were 12-of-20 at the foul line. Layssard led the team with 13 points and five rebounds while Robert Williams (Dallas/Kimball HS) added 10 points and seven boards. Reid Wallace (Spring/Tomball HS) had a solid all-around game with eight points, five rebounds and a career high five steals. Brown went 4-for-4 at the foul line giving him 20 consecutive made free throws, the third such streak he has had this year.

The Texans shot 44.4 percent from the field, made 5-of-12 from three-point range and were 18-for-29 at the foul line. Wes Dipprey led the team with 18 points and 13 rebounds in 39 minutes of action. Haynes added 12 points and four rebounds while Warren Webb had 11 points, six rebounds and five assists. They grabbed nine more rebounds than the Javs, but committed six more turnovers.

The Javelinas are back in action on Saturday at 3 p.m. against Texas A&M-Commerce at Kingsville Hampton
Inn Court.
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