KINGSVILLE, Texas – Riding their longest win streak in 25 years and with an LSC record of 11-1 for the first time in program history, the No. 14 Texas A&M-Kingsville men's basketball team will put these numbers on the line in their first test of the year against a ranked team, the No. 25 St. Edward's Hilltoppers, who will host the Javelinas at the Recreation and Convocation Center in Austin, Texas on Thursday at 7 p.m., then SEU will visit the Steinke Physical Education Center in Kingsville, Texas on Saturday for a 4 p.m. matchup.
During the 2019-20 season, the Hogs and Hilltoppers met three times in games decided by less than 10 points, with the final meeting coming in the Lone Star Conference Tournament semifinals, but SEU came away with all three victories. In each instance, the Javs couldn't prevent the Hilltoppers from grabbing the early momentum and SEU shot better than 50 percent in the first half and led by double figures at halftime in every meeting.
The version of the Javelinas St. Edward's will see this time around will look very different from the squad they vanquished a year ago. TAMUK has increased its scoring average and shaved more than six points off the number points they're allowing per game compared to 2019-20.
The anchor of the Javelina defense in 2020-21 has been junior forward Will Chayer (Corpus Christi, Texas). Fresh off his first LSC Defensive Player of the Week award, Chayer ranks second in the conference in blocked shots and he's recorded multiple rejections in five of his last seven games. The kid from Corpus also leads the team in rebounding and shooting percentage and is currently posting the best scoring average of his career.
The Javelina defense will be tested by the highest scoring offense they've faced this season. While the Hogs average allowing 61.9 points per game, best in the LSC, and haven't allowed a team to reach 80 points, the Hilltoppers have a scoring average of 83.5 and have topped 80 points eight times.
The SEU offense has been led by graduate forward B.J. Maxwell and junior guard Daniel Venzant, both of whom are in the top 15 in the LSC in points per game. Maxwell's average of 20.9 puts him fourth in the league and his season includes a 47-point night against Midwestern State on Jan. 3rd. No player in Division II has scored more points in a game than Maxwell's 47.
Venzant owns a scoring average of 16.5, 12th-best in the LSC and he's also third in the conference in assists and ninth in steals. His season includes a string of three straight 20-point games in December and January, with a season-high 24 points coming on Jan. 2nd at Midwestern State. Venzant will be entering Thursday's game attempting to bounce back from his lowest point total of the season, as he was held to six points in a loss to Angelo State on Sunday.
Links to live coverage of both games, including streaming video and stats, can be found on Javelinaathletics.com and complete postgame coverage, including recaps and interviews will be posted on the site after the final buzzer. Fans can keep up with Javelina men's basketball throughout the season by following @JavelinaMBB on Twitter and Instagram, liking Texas A&M University-Kingsville Men's Basketball on Facebook, subscribing to the Javelina Athletics YouTube channel and visiting Javelinaathletics.com. Watch your Javelinas live today on the Javelina Sports Network sponsored by Mendoza's Pharmacy.
