Texas A&M - Kingsville Athletics

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LAREDO, Texas (Men's Basketball) – Texas A&M University-Kingsville (6-2) had three players reach double figures and the defense held the nation's fifth-best shooting team to 36.5 percent shooting in Saturday afternoon's 56-53 victory at Texas A&M International University (5-3).
 
With the victory, the Javelinas put an end to the Dustdevils' five-game win streak. Jamar Goodwin went 5-of-10 from the field and nine of his 13 points came from behind-the-arc. He added a team-high eight rebounds. Will West was 5-of-9 from the floor for 13 points and added five rebounds and five assists and Troy Jones recorded 11 points and seven rebounds.
 
A defensive battle in the first half, the Javelinas trailed 23-21 heading into the second. In the second half, West and Goodwin took over, combining for 21 points and offensively, the Javelinas had just three turnovers.
 
TAMUK was able to score the second half's first four points to take a two-point lead and later, led by as much as seven following Trey Sumpter's three at the 11:11 mark. A 10-2 run by TAMIU ensued giving the Dustdevils a one-point lead with 8:22 remaining.
 
Minutes later, another triple by Breedlove gave International a 51-49 lead with 4:38 left to play but Goodwin followed with a three-pointer of his own to give the Javelinas a one-point lead. West's three with 1:10 left made it a two-point ballgame in favor of Kingsville and the guard hit the first free throw with 12 ticks remaining to clinch the victory for Texas A&M-Kingsville.
 
The win clinches the regular season series victory against the defending Heartland Conference champions.
 
Three Dustdevils reached double figures, with Jordan VanDeKop and Deonnte Breedlove scoring 12 points apiece. VanDeKop posted a double-double, adding 12 boards.
 
The Javelinas will return to Kingsville to host St. Mary's University (4-3) inside the Gil E. Steinke Physical Education Center-Kingsville Hampton Inn Court on Monday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.
 
Scouting the Rattlers
The 4-3 Rattlers are coming off back-to-back losses and will enter Kingsville on Monday after a 10-day layover of their own. St. Mary's fell to Lone Star Conference members Midwestern State University on Dec. 1 and Eastern New Mexico University on Dec. 4. Pacing the defending Heartland Conference champions is Kriston Minor with 16.9 points per game. Minor led all scorers in the first meeting earlier this season with 19. Trey Hall is averaging 11.1 points and 6.0 rebounds and Isaiah Parros has averages of 7.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.9 steals. His 2.9 steals per game are 12^th most in the nation.
 
StMU is seventh in DII in scoring defense, holding opponents to 63.3 points per game. The defense is also 19^th in blocked shots per game (4.9), 30^th in steals (9.1) and 17^th in turnovers forced (18.43). Offensively, the 15.29 offensive rebounds per game is 15^th most in the country.
 
Live stats and video will be available for and can be accessed by visiting www.JavelinaAthletics.com, the official home of Javelina athletics.
 
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