KINGSVILLE, Texas – Four wins in their last six games have helped the Texas A&M-Kingsville men's basketball team seize sole possession of third-place in the Lone Star Conference with a 10-3 record in league games, but the Javelinas must try and maintain their momentum as they hit the road for their second-to-last week away from home during the 2019-20 regular season.
The Hogs' first stop is Wichita Falls, Texas to play the Midwestern State Mustangs on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. After a day off, TAMUK will battle the Cameron Aggies on Saturday at 4 p.m. inside Aggie Gym in Lawton, Okla.
The squad's current standing in third place means the Javs remain in control of their own destiny as they seek a first-round by in the LSC Tournament. The tournament includes the league's top 12 teams, but seeds 1-4 are awarded a bye in round one and sent straight through to the quarterfinals. Nine games remain on the 2019-20 regular season schedule for the Blue and Gold as they look to secure their place in Frisco, Texas, the site of the tourney's final three rounds.
The Javelinas' last triumph put them at 10 wins in conference play for the first time since the 2016-17 season and they'll be attempting to eclipse that plateau for just the second time in program history. The first TAMUK team to do so was the 1995-96 edition, which went 13-3 and captured the conference tournament title.
Current coach Johnny Estelle was a guard on the 1995-96 roster and during his team's 10th conference win of the current year, he saw one of his guards reach a new career-high in points. Senior Rashon Thomas (Houston, Texas) put up 26 as he helped his team top Eastern New Mexico, 64-50. The senior from Houston has continued to cement his status as one of the LSC's most dangerous shooters, as evidenced by his 41.5 shooting percentage from the beyond the arc, which puts him at the top of the conference's leaderboard.
Excellent team defense was another staple of the Hogs' win over the Greyhounds. The 50 points ENMU scored were the fewest permitted by Estelle's club all season and the 67.0 points per game TAMUK is currently allowing puts them in the top 30 nationally. They also continue to burnish their reputation as one of the best rebounding teams in the LSC. TAMUK averages allowing their opponents fewer boards than anyone else in the conference and they rank second in offensive rebounding and rebounding margin.
The Javelinas will need to be sharp in all aspects of their game in both Wichita Falls and Lawton, two places in which they've triumphed a combined once since 2009. Senior John Mouton (Missouri City, Texas) posted a career-best 22 points when the Blue and Gold visited Cameron in Feb. 2019 and helped his team erase a 13-point second-half deficit, but the Aggies still scratched out a 65-61 win. Against MSU, the Hogs fell by a single point, 69-68, despite a 12-point, eight rebound day from Mouton. The senior guard and his teammates will be attempting to erase those memories when they visit these sites in 2020.
Links on Javelinaathletics.com will be available for fans to follow each game live via live video and stats and recaps of each contest can be found on the website postgame. Stay current with TAMUK men's basketball throughout the 2019-20 season by following @JavelinaMBB and @JavelinaSports on Twitter and Instagram, liking Javelina Men's Basketball on Facebook and subscribing to the Javelina Athletics YouTube Channel. Watch your Javelinas live today on the Javelina Sports Network sponsored by Mendoza's Pharmacy.
