KINGSVILLE, Texas – Four Javelinas scored in double figures, led by junior Rashon Thomas (Houston, Texas) and his 18 points, but the Texas A&M-Kingsville men's basketball team dropped an overtime barnburner, 88-83, to the No. 12 St. Edward's Hilltoppers on Wednesday night in Kingsville, Texas at the Steinke Physical Education Center.
Thomas's 18 came on 4-of-7 shooting and included three treys and seven free throws. Senior Alex Mills (Laurens, S.C.) poured in 14 while hitting from beyond the arc four times. Junior Chauncey Thomas (Plano, Texas) added 12 and freshman Darius Mickens (Willis, Texas) contributed 10.
Ashton Spears set a new season-high with 28 points for SEU, while Dorian Lopez put up 23 points.
The Hilltoppers opened up by scoring nine of the first 13 points before the Javelinas responded with a 9-2 burst that included a trey by Rashon Thomas, making the score 13-11 with 11:15 on the clock.
The Hogs soon seized a 25-21 advantage with the help of a pair of triples by Mills, but the Hilltoppers found a rhythm and built a 12-3 run that thrust them in front, 33-28, with Corey Shervill contributing six points during that stretch. The last run of the half, however belonged to the Javelinas.
After each team added two points to their total, the Javs took advantage of a pair of opportunities from deep to move ahead. The first triple came from Mills with 48 seconds until the half. After a turnover by St. Edward's, a missed layup and an offensive rebound by TAMUK, Rashon Thomas drained his second three of the period and the Javs went to the locker room ahead, 36-35.
After a layup by senior Robert Stevenson (Houston, Texas) opened the scoring in the second half, 11 of the next 13 points were scored by SEU, capped by a layup by Spears at the 15:59 mark. The Hilltoppers' six-point edge was the largest difference between the teams to that point, but a quick 6-0 spurt by the Blue and Gold erased it and evened the score at 50.
Once again, the Hilltoppers forged a modest lead at 68-62, only to see their hosts answer with six straight. A Chauncey Thomas jumper was followed by a slam from Stevenson and a floater courtesy of Mickens.
St. Edward's soon moved back ahead by five thanks to two Dorian Lopez free throws, a layup by Spears and a Luke Pluymen triple with 1:32 to play. The Javelinas had one more rally in them at that point. A Stevenson layup and two from the charity stripe by Rashon Thomas brought the Blue and Gold to within one. Sophomore Jamell Bradley (Converse, Texas) then converted one of two from the line and, after a stop by the Javs on defense, this one headed for overtime.
The sides traded buckets three times to begin the extra session, with a three by Rashon Thomas in the last exchange putting TAMUK up by one. Lopez answered with a three of his own to put the Hilltoppers ahead 84-82 with 1:12 to play. After empty possessions by both sides, Stevenson drew a foul and hit one of two, only to see SEU respond with two free throws. The Javelinas' last possession ended with a missed layup before two more foul shots concluded the scoring.
The Hilltoppers bested the Javelinas in shooting percentage, 46.9-45.2, but the Javelinas hit 36.8 percent of their threes compared to 29.2 for the visitors. St. Edward's did outrebound their hosts grabbing 39 compared to 32. TAMUK's bench poured in 39, as SEU's was credited with 17 points.
The Javelinas have 10 days until their next test, which will be against Arkansas Tech in Waco, Texas on Dec. 15th. To stay up-to-date with TAMUK men's basketball all season, follow @JavelinaMBB on Twitter, @Javelinasports on Instagram, like Javelina Men's Basketball on Facebook and subscribe to the Javelina Athletics YouTube Channel.
