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SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Coming off a split in Florida, Texas A&M University-Kingsville (4-6) returns to the Lone Star State looking to avenge a close 86-80 contest against No. 20 Our Lady of the Lake University (7-1) on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 1 p.m. at Mabee Gymnasium.
 
Live stats and video will be available for the matinee tip. With the all-time record tied at 1-1 between the Javelinas and Our Lady of the Lake, TAMUK can close out the 2014 season with an upset win over the nationally-ranked Saints.
 
Last Time Out
With the Javelina faithful on their feet, the resilient Hogs nearly came from behind after trailing by as much as 25. However, the Saints escaped Gil H. Steinke Physical Education Center-Kingsville Hampton Inn Court with an 86-80 victory on Nov. 25. The nonconference tilt was the first matchup between the two programs since 1984.
 
In the loss, DJ Weathers finished with 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting and 23 of his points came in the second half. Jamar Goodwin added 22 points and three steals, Duan Wright finished with six rebounds, five assists and four steals and Brandon Etienne added five swipes. Troy Jones was a rebound shy of a double-double, recording 10 points, nine rebounds and three blocks.
 
The Javelinas rode a 17-2 run in a four-minute span during the second half to cut their deficit to 60-56 with 11:58 remaining. Weathers scored 11 of his 13 points in the opening minutes of the second stanza. Ten points came off turnovers and nine were because of TAMUK's relentless efforts off the glass.
 
The Javelinas caused 14 turnovers in the second frame, none bigger than Wright's following a Weathers jumper. The steal led to an Austen Bradshaw fast break layup that cut the game to three with just under three minutes left to play.
 
A second run (6-0) brought the Javelinas to single digits as Our Lady of the Lake led 73-65 with less than five minutes remaining. After free throws, Weathers drained his second triple of the game for his 18th point of the game. The Javelinas went into the final media timeout of the game down 75-68 with 3:47 left.
 
Five Saints reached double figures, led by De'Quentin Greer's 19 points.
 
How's the Weather
In the trip to the Sunshine State, Texas A&M-Kingsville shook off its week-long rust to go on separate 7-0 runs in the second frame to down Eckerd College, 76-67, on Monday evening at the McArthur Center.
 
Four players reached double figures for the Hogs in the first-ever matchup between the two programs. Jones scored 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting and added a game-high nine rebounds. Jordan Jahr matched Jones for a team best 15 and Wright (6-of-8) and Goodwin scored 12 apiece. Don Thomas finished with three steals and dished out four assists and Wright and Goodwin each swiped two passes.
 
A 7-0 run to begin the second half allowed the Javelinas to overcome their three-point deficit and take a 39-35 lead. Scoring seven unanswered for the second time in the frame, the Blue and Gold took its largest lead in the game, a 47-40 edge, with 12:32 remaining in the game. The Tritons could not make it less than a two-possession game as the defense continued to forced turnovers at will as Eckerd finished the evening with 21 turnovers.
 
The following day, Jones led the Hogs with 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting, but the Javelinas suffered a heartbreaking 79-76 overtime loss to the University of Tampa at the Bob Martinez Athletics Center. Thomas added 15 – all coming from behind-the-arc – and Wright and Jahr combined for 23 points.
 
Down 57-43 with 9:59 to play in the second half, TAMUK went on an 18-4 run to tie the score with 81 seconds left on the clock. Jones scored six points during the stretch including making two free throws to cap off the scoring.
 
The Spartans made a layup to go back on top but Wright made 1-of-2 at the charity stripe to cut the deficit to one with 39 seconds to go in regulation. Following two TU free throws, Thomas nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer to end the contest to a five-minute extra period.
 
The Matchup
Four players are averaging double figures for the Blue and Gold, led by Jones' 14.4 points and 7.8 rebounds on 65 percent shooting. Greer paces the Saints with 13.9 points per game on an unworldly 71 percent shooting. Big man Daniel Skinner and Jeremy Hines are coming off 19-point performances in an 86-72 win over Texas College on Dec. 13. OLLU's six-game win streak began in the friendly confines of Kingsville Hampton Inn Court.
 
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