CANYON, Texas (Men's Basketball) – Texas A&M University-Kingsville was missing its leading scorer and rebounder but that did not stop the Javelinas from mounted a furious rally. However, a late comeback by West Texas A&M University allowed the Buffs (14-9, 4-5 LSC) to come from behind and defeat the Javelinas (7-14, 2-7 LSC), 74-68, on Saturday afternoon at the First United Bank Center.
 
The Javelinas came out clicking on all cylinders in the second half, going on an 8-0 run to cut their deficit to one, 39-38, with 15:08 remaining. Will West drove to the basket and laid it in for back-to-back hoops, giving TAMUK its first lead of the second half. Following four points by West, Duan Wright scored after a Buffs turnover to make it a five-point game. The run was officially 14-0 as WT was held scoreless for 5:55.
 
West Texas muscled its way to one last run, taking a five-point lead with 3:55 remaining as the three-ball was pivotal to the Buffs' rally. Junior Jamar Goodwin answered with a triple of his own, making it a one-possession contest with 2:39 left to play. A scoreless drought in the final minutes gave the edge to the Buffs, allowing West Texas A&M to defeat Texas A&M-Kingsville, 74-68, and complete the regular season sweep.
 
Justin Phillipe was a menace on the glass in the second half, pulling down eight of his 10 boards in the latter stanza.
 
Goodwin finished with 16 points on 4-of-9 shooting from three-point range and West and Jordan Jahr added 14 apiece. Tez Dumars was lights out, leading all scorers with 25 points as all five Buff starters reached double figures. Antjuan Ball finished with a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
 
In the opening 20 minutes, Texas A&M-Kingsville struggled to hold onto the ball, committing nine turnovers. However, Taylor provided the rebound void vacated by the shorthanded Hogs, pulling five boards and dishing out two dimes.
 
An 8-0 run sparked by big fella Elliot Taylor allowed the Javelinas to overtake the Buffs, 13-11, with 11:35 remaining in the first. Free throws kept West Texas close despite going 1-of-12 from the field in the middle stages of the opening frame as the Buffs converted on 8-of-10 from the charity stripe, and limited the Javelinas to zero trips to the line.
 
A three-pointer by Jahr made it a five-point ballgame, the largest lead Kingsville held in the first half. However, WT went on a run of its own, scoring 12 unanswered points to take a 27-20 lead with 4:30 left to play in the first and made it an eight-point ballgame heading into the final media timeout of the opening half. The Buffs defense caused five turnovers during the 17-2 run that extended their lead to double digits. At halftime, the Blue and Gold trailed 36-26.

The Javelinas head to A&M-Commerce on Thursday, Feb. 12 for a showdown with the Lions.
 
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