CHADRON, Neb – With 11 different players contributing points and the Javelinas shooting 47.8 percent, the Texas A&M-Kingsville men's basketball team secured its first victory by dropping the Chadron State Eagles, 71-59, on Saturday evening at the Chicoine Center in Chadron, Neb.
Junior Chauncey Thomas (Plano, Texas) and sophomore Jamell Bradley (Converse, Texas) led the Hogs in scoring by each tossing in nine points and Thomas tied for the team-lead in rebounds with four and assists with two.
TAMUK scoured the glass for 35 rebounds while limiting the Eagles to 26 boards and 38 percent shooting from the floor. The Hogs also drew 24 fouls and shot 75 percent from the charity stripe, with Chauncey Thomas and junior Rashon Thomas (Houston, Texas) each sinking five-of-six.
After an early 8-8 tie, the Hogs used a 10-3 run capped by a three from junior John Mouton (Missouri City, Texas) to move in front, 18-11. The Eagles fought back to move within one twice, at 18-17, and again at 23-22, before TAMUK regained the momentum.
Sparked by a three from senior Alex Mills (Laurens, S.C.), the Javelinas scored nine of the final 11 points of the first half to take a 32-24 lead into the locker room. Junior Daniel Severo (Osasco, Brazil) also contributed a trey during that stretch. The Hogs hit 11 of 23 shots during the first half for a shooting percentage better than 47 percent.
The Eagles charged out of the gate in the second half by scoring 13 of the first 16 points, but a triple by Bradley sparked a response by the Javs. TAMUK tallied the next eight points to go ahead, 43-37.
A trio of Chadron State free throws and a layup by senior Elton Dyer (Houston, Texas) made the score 45-40 and that's when the Blue and Gold went to work again. A trey by Mills, a layup by Bradley and a two free throws courtesy of Chauncey Thomas stretched the lead to 12.
Following a three by Michael Sparks that brought the home team to within 56-48 with 8:33 to play, the Javs set about salting away the win. Buckets by freshman Will Chayer (Corpus Christi, Texas) and freshman Darius Mickens (Willis, Texas), a Jacolby Harris (Delray, Fla.) dunk and two more from the charity stripe by Rashon Thomas made the lead 16 and it got as high as 17. Chadron State managed to whittle it 10, but they couldn't move any closer before the final buzzer sounded on TAMUK's first win of 2018-19.
The Javelinas come back to Kingsville for their home opener on Wednesday, when they'll face St. Mary's at 7 p.m. To keep up with Javelina men's basketball all year long, follow @JavelinaMBB on Twitter and @JavelinaSports on Instagram, like JavelinaMBB on Facebook and visit Javelinaathletics.com.
