Tweet #JavelinaSTRONG

KINGSVILLE, Texas (Men's Basketball) – The Javelina faithful came out in full force to witness a near upset over a top ten team as Texas A&M University-Kingsville (8-5, 0-2 LSC) attempted a game tying three-pointer at the buzzer, falling to No. 9/15 Tarleton State University (13-2, 3-0 LSC), 50-47, in the Gil E. Steinke Physical Education Center-Kingsville Hampton Inn Court.
 
Troy Jones finished with 13 points and seven rebounds and went 9-12 from the free throw line. Cris Boleware and DJ Weathers recorded 11 points apiece and Trey Sumpter came off the bench with eight points.
 
The Javelinas led for the majority of the first half and held
 
The Kingsville defense was dominant in a strong first half, limiting one of the nation's best shooting teams to 5-24 in the opening 20 minutes. The Javelinas led 22-18 affter one and Sumpter provided the offensive punch TAMUK needed, scoring a game-high eight points off the bench and adding two steals on the defensive end. The 18 points were the lowest first half total for the Texans this season.
 
Nationally-ranked Tarleton State began the second half on a 9-1 run to take a 27-23 lead with 14:56 remaining in the game.
 
Thomas Diaz's layup with 10:24 left made it a 33-31 ballgame in favor of the Texans, but the Javelinas drew a charge on the defensive end and Tarleton State traveled with 9:22 remaining. Following the TSU turnover, Boleware drove to the basket to tie the contest at 33-all and the defense continued to come up big as Weathers forced yet another Texan turnover.
 
Before the under-8 media, the Javelinas forced TSU's fourth consecutive miscue, giving the Hogs an opportunity to regain the lead for the second time in as many possessions.
 
Down six with less than a minute remaining, Weathers connected on an and-one to make it a three-point game with 52 ticks. Bailed out by a triple at the shot clock buzzer to extend the lead to six, Tarleton fouled Jones and the senior forward drained his eighth and nine free throws to cut Kingsville's deficit to four with 11.7 seconds left.
 
Tarleton State was able to escape with a three-point victory to begin LSC play 3-0. EJ Reed scored 17 points and added eight rebounds and Deeshawn Riddick added 14 points off the bench.
 
The Javelinas host Eastern New Mexico University on Jan. 13 at 7:30 p.m.
 
For full coverage of Texas A&M-Kingsville men's basketball, please follow @JavelinaMBB on Twitter and Instagram, like the official Facebook page of Javelina men's basketball (/JavelinaMBB) and subscribe to the JavelinaAthletics YouTube channel.