STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Junior John Mouton (Missouri City, Texas) put up 10 points and senior Robert Stevenson (Houston, Texas) grabbed a game-high seven rebounds, but it wasn't enough for the Texas A&M-Kingsville men's basketball team to get by the Tarleton State Texans, who earned a 66-59 victory on Thursday night in Lone Star Conference action at Wisdom Gym in Stephenville, Texas.
Mouton's 10 points came on 4-of-9 shooting and he was one of 10 players that contributed to the scoring for TAMUK. Senior Alex Mills (Laurens, S.C.) chipped in with eight and junior Rashon Thomas (Houston, Texas) scored seven.
Stevenson's seven boards helped the Javelinas win the rebounding battle, 33-30. The Texans, however, outshot their guests, posting a shooting percentage of 47.6 compared to 39.7 for the Javelinas. TSU hit 57.1 percent of their shots in the second half. They also forced 20 turnovers while giving away 15.
A triple by junior Chauncey Thomas (Plano, Texas) and a put-back by Stevenson got TAMUK on the board with the first five points before the Texans matched that total. The Javelinas then used the three-point shot to forge a double-digit lead.
Triples from Rashon Thomas, sophomore Jamell Bradley (Converse, Texas), freshman Darius Mickens (Willis, Texas) and Mills helped fuel a 17-6 run that staked the Javelinas to a 22-11 advantage. The home team soon responded with a run of their own, scoring 11 straight on a burst capped by a game-tying three-pointer courtesy of Josh Hawley. The Hogs answered by scoring seven of the last 12 points of the half to take a 32-30 edge into the locker room.
Nine different Javelinas scored in the first half as TAMUK shot 41.4 percent from the floor and hit 7-of-17 three pointers.
A quick 6-0 spurt to begin the second half pushed the Texans in front by four and they would hold the lead for the rest of the evening. The teams remained no more than six points apart for much of the half and the Hogs moved within three when Rashon Thomas canned the triple from the right wing.
It was at this point that the Texans went on a run to build a secure lead. Treys by Preston Enloe and Hawley were followed by a jumper by Hawley and Tarleton had a 52-41 advantage, their first double figure lead. The Texans kept the Javelinas at arms-length until late in the game, when a pair of threes by Mouton brought TAMUK within six with 1:28 on the clock, but they were unable to get any closer.
The second LSC game on TAMUK's schedule brings them to Commerce where they'll battle the A&M-Commerce Lions in a matchup that will start at 4 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.
