KINGSVILLE, Texas (Men's Basketball) – Texas A&M University-Kingsville (8-5, 1-3 LSC) pulled off the biggest upset of the 2016-17 season to date after knocking off  #9/#15 Tarleton State University (13-2, 5-1 LSC) for its first Lone Star Conference win this season on Saturday afternoon in the Gil E. Steinke Physical Education Center. 

The Javelinas defeated the Texans for the first time since February 13, 2013 when they edged them 56-55 in Hog Heaven. 

Despite learning that #9 Tarleton State trampled #5 Angelo State by 32 points as a visitor a couple of days ago, Texas A&M-Kingsville refused to be intimidated when the hottest team in the LSC—and arguably the nation—came into its own house. After a quick start by the Texans, the Hogs 12-0 run in the first half gave the home team a lead that they never relinquished to capture its first conference win of the season. The Hogs negated almost every statistic the Texans leads the conference in as they shot 48% from long distance and held TSU to just 32% in the game. Duan Wright was the leading scorer for the second consecutive game as he finished with 19 points and shot a perfect 3-of-3 from downtown. Marcus Frazier followed with 14 points and Justin Jones scored ten points in the win. The bench was the driving force in the victory for the Javs and Robert Stevenson was the engine as he finished with a career-high ten rebounds, team-high three blocks and chipped in seven points.

TEAM LEADERS

Texas A&M-Kingsville
Points: Duan Wright, 19
Rebounds: Robert Stevenson, 10
Assists: Derrick Byrd, 5
Steals: Duan Wright, 2
Blocks: Robert Stevenson, 3
 

Tarleton State
Points: Ridell Camidge, 23
Rebounds: Anthony Davis, 9
Assists: Deshawn Riddick, 5
Steals: Four players with one steal
Blocks: Romond Jenkins, 5

1st Half
Both teams opened the game shooting 50% from the floor, but Texans' Ridell Camidge was feeling it early from three-point range, shooting a perfect 3-of-3 to take a 13-6 lead with 15:34 on the clock. Texas A&M-Kingsville responded out of the media timeout, firing on all cylinders to take an 18-13 lead after a 12-0 run. The Javelinas continued to apply pressure to the nationally ranked team and led by as much as 18 points—the largest margin of the game— 37-19 with 5:16 remaining in the half. Although TSU finished the half on a 12-4 run, TAMUK went into the half with a 41-31 lead.

Wright finished the half with ten points and two steals, while Jones's streaky shooting rolled over from the previous game with three made triples. As a team the Hogs shot 50% from the floor, 42.9% from three and 85.5% from the charity stripe. They also forced 10 Tarleton turnovers and converted them into 15 points. 

2nd Half
Fifteen minutes into the half, the Javelinas maintained their ten-point lead, 67-57,  behind four three pointers. Deep in crunch time, Wright struck from three-point territory, followed by a put back jam from Stevenson that put TAMUK up 74-62 with 1:36 remaining in the game. A few free throws from TSU trimmed TAMUK's lead 74-66, but could never get as close as four points. The Hoggies went on to complete the upset and win their first conference game of the season, 76-71.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Javelinas snapped the Texans ten-game winning streak.
• The Javelinas dominated majority of the first half by shooting 50% from the floor which included six made three-pointers.
• TAMUK outscored TSU 12-6 in the paint, 15-5 in points off of turnovers and 22-6 from the bench in the first half.
• Overall in the game, the Javelinas shot 43% from the floor, and 48% from three-point range. TSU shot 32% and 28%, respectively.
• The Hogs held the double-double machine Romond Jenkins to four points and seven rebounds in 20 minutes.
• Jones hit three triples in the first half in back-to-back games.
• After scoring 19 points against Tarleton, Duan Wright has combined for 39 points in the last two games.
• Frazier tied his season-high of 14 points.
• TAMUK bench cored 39 points in the game verses TSU's 14. TSU led for only 4:48.

Estelle's Corner

When asked about:

…capturing the first conference win this season.…

"It is our first win but I tell my team we are not a 0-3 club. It is a phenomenal feeling to beat a great team like Tarleton State no matter when it is in the season. We came up about 15 or 16 points short from being 3-0 so a win of this caliber gives us confirmation and increases our confidence."

…the play from the reserves.…

"Every kid contributed today. It was a community type of win. Jones really played big in the first half and Frazier also played good today. Thomas Diaz has a few DNP's but right now is our MVP. Our bench just had a great spirit today. Every championship team that I have been apart of, the bench was a key element."

…containing Romond Jenkins.…

"Both Elliot Taylor and Robert Stevenson did great limiting his touches and opportunities today."

…the upcoming road trip against #11 West Texas A&M and RV UTPB.…

"Anywhere you play in the LSC is going to be tough. West Texas A&M is a hard place to play and UTPB has a lot of guys that is hard to guard. It is going to be a tough road trip but we will be ready."

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Texas A&M-Kingsville 76, Tarleton State 71
Records: Texas A&M-Kingsville (8-5, 1-3 LSC), Tarleton State (13-2, 5-1 LSC)
Series: Texas A&M-Kingsville are 23-38 against Tarleton State
Location: The SPEC Kingsville, Texas
Time of Game: 2 p.m.

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