STEPHENVILLE, Texas (Men's Basketball) – The score did not dictate just how close the Javelinas were to upsetting No. 3/5 Tarleton State University on Saturday evening at Wisdom Gymnasium. Texas A&M University-Kingsville led early and often as Kingsville held a lead nine times in the Lone Star Conference contest. However, a late rally by the Texans (13-1, 1-1 LSC) allowed the home squad to end the opening week of conference action with a 59-44 victory over the Javelinas (5-9, 0-2 LSC).
Giving the Texans all they could handle, the Javelinas went into the half trailing by three. Coming out strong in the opening minutes of the second, the Hogs held Tarleton State scoreless for 2:49 to take a 31-30 lead with 14:03 left to play on a three-pointer by
DJ Weathers.
A 6-0 run by TSU allowed the Texans to regain their lead, 36-31, with 10:43 remaining. However, Texas A&M-Kingsville went on a 6-0 run of its own, sparked by
Troy Jones to regain a two-point lead, 39-37, with 9:04 left. Both teams continued to trade points and after trailing by two, Jones hit a jumper and
Jordan Jahr connected on both free throws to give the Hogs a 43-42 lead with 6:28 lingering.
TSU's late run beginning with a free throw to tie the game at 43 allowed the Texans to take a seven-point lead with 2:40 remaining, while the Javelinas were victims to a 17-1 run late in the game en route to a 59-44 loss.
Don Thomas pulled down four rebounds in the opening stanza and Weathers led all TAMUK players with five points off the bench in the first.
Jones finished with 13 points and six rebounds for his 12
th double digit scoring game of the season. Despite holding the Texans to 39 percent shooting, TSU scored 21 points off turnovers and ended the game on a 9-0 run. Michael Hardge led all scorers with 20 points, going 11-of-15 from the free throw line.
Texas A&M-Kingsville heads to Portales, N.M. for a midweek LSC battle against Eastern New Mexico University on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 8:30 p.m. CT.
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Notes: Troy Jones extends double digit scoring streak to nine games… Tarleton State leads the all-time series 35-22... Texas A&M-Kingsville did not hit a field goal in the final 5:35 of the game, allowing TSU to go on a 17-1 run (9-0 run in final 2:08 of game).
