KINGSVILLE, Texas – Just two weeks remain on the 2019-20 regular season schedule for the Texas A&M-Kingsville men's basketball team. Through 24 games, the Javelinas have crafted a record of 18-6 and set a program benchmark with 14 Lone Star Conference victories en route to a 14-4 mark in the LSC. Now, as they close in on postseason play, the Hogs will be tasked with one of the most difficult four-game stretches on their schedule and it starts on the road.
The first stop on this road trip is San Angelo, Texas, where the Javs will take on the Angelo State Rams on Thursday at Stephens Arena at the Junell Center in a matchup that will tip-off at 7:30 p.m. Saturday will bring with it a trip to Lubbock, Texas for a 3 p.m. contest against the Lubbock Christian Chaparrals inside the Rip Griffin Center.
Both teams are two games back of the third-place Javs in pursuit of a bye in the first round of the LSC Tournament, which gets awarded to the league's top four squads. A win over either ASU or LCU would ensure that the defeated side would not pass TAMUK in the LSC standings. There are a trio of squads three games behind the Javelinas: Tarleton, Dallas Baptist and A&M-Commerce, but the Hogs own a head-to-head advantage over the Lions thanks to a 75-60 win in January. The remaining schedules of TSU and DBU both include tilts against No. 8 St. Edward's before they travel to Kingsville during the season's final week.
Nothing will come easy on this road trip, however. The Rams received votes in the most recent National Association of Basketball Coaches poll and feature three players in the conference's top 30 in scoring, led by senior guard Collin Turner and his team-best 15.8 points per game and fourth-year big man Andres Ibarguen, who's nearly averaging a double-double.
TAMUK, however, will travel to San Angelo with the added incentive of trying to knock off a team that defeated them three times in 2018-19, including a season-ending loss in the LSC Tournament. One of the biggest keys will be keeping the Rams away from the free throw line. In their three wins over the Hogs, the Rams averaged 44.3 free throw attempts per contest, with a high of 49 in a 75-65 victory in Kingsville on Jan. 5th.
LCU's resume includes a win over then-No. 5 St. Edward's and guard Lloyd Daniels headlines an offense that leads the conference and is tied for 19th in the nation in three-point shooting percentage.
The Javelinas will be attempting counter the offensive prowess of both opponents with the nation's 28th-best scoring defense, which has held more than half of its opponents under 70 points. TAMUK has won the battle for points in the paint 15 times this season and they're 13-2 when they outscore opponents inside. They've also outrebounded their foe 16 times and the 30.6 rebounds they allow per game is 16th-best in the nation. That stat will be tested by an ASU team that averages better than 40 rebounds per game, 22nd in Division II.
While the Blue and Gold have remained stout on defense, it was their offense that stole the show in their most recent outing, a 96-62 trouncing of Texas A&M International. The point total was the team's highest in a regulation game under Coach Johnny Estelle. For the second time in 2019-20, five Javelinas scored in double figures including senior Rashon Thomas (Houston, Texas), who had a game-high 18 points and sophomore Will Chayer (Corpus Christi, Texas), who posted his first career double-double. Thomas remains the team's leading scorer, averaging 13.9 points per game, while Chayer continues an excellent sophomore campaign. The kid from Corpus Christi has played more minutes than any other Javelina and leads the team in rebounding and blocked shots while also owning spots in the top five in points and assists. Thomas and Chayer are two of the players Estelle will be counting on in both San Angelo and Lubbock.
Links to live video and live stats for each game will be available via Javelinaathletics.com and a postgame recap will also be published on the site after the final buzzer. 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.
