KINGSVILLE, Texas – The Javelina men's basketball team extended its conference leading win streak to five games after defeating Arkansas Fort Smith 71-56 on Thursday night.
"I thought defensively we played really well, I think it was one of our best games this season," said head coach Johnny Estelle. "I think Coach O and Thomas did a really good job with the scouting report and the kids did a tremendous job."
The Javelinas (10-5, 4-3 LSC) were led offensively by junior guard Dillon Gooding who recorded a game-high 17-points, while going 9-9 from the free throw line.
"It's interesting because at St. Mary's Dillon missed two free-throws down at the end," said Estelle. "But since then he's been fantastic, he's a gym rat who works on his craft, and it's contagious.
TAMUK suffocated the Lions (7-7, 3-5 LSC) throughout the game offensively, limiting UAFS to just 19-42 shooting from the field, including 1-10 from beyond the arc.
UAFS Payton Brown entered the game leading the LSC in points per game this season, but was kept in check only scoring six total points.
Senior forward Will Chayer had a strong performance for the Javelinas as well posting six points, 9 rebounds, and three blocks in the win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Javelinas opened the scoring via a three-pointer by C.J. Smith before the Lions went on a 6-0 run that was snapped by a Kendrick Washington jumper at the 15:55 mark.
Following the small run, TAMUK went on its own 9-0 run to take the lead back at 12-6. Though the run would end, the Lions would not convert a field goal for five minutes in the first half.
Kendrick Washington stared in the first half scoring all eight of his points in the first converting from beyond the arc, at the basket and from the line.
Later in the half, the Javelinas went on a 10-0 run over the span of four minutes that was capped off by threes from Jake Majors and Marcus Jones-Green.
The Lions struggled offensively throughout the half but made up for it going 12-14 from the line in the half.
The Javelinas early hot hands cooled off going 0-6 towards the end of the half before Gooding hit a three-pointer from the right side at the buzzer pushing the score to 37-24.
Gooding quickly added to his first half 10 points with an early three-pointer which he followed up with a difficult finish at the rim through the foul while losing his shoe.
Much of the second half was an even back and forth affair between the two teams trading baskets and forcing turnovers, but UAFS could never get the lead cut down past nine.
The Lions were unable to take advantage of TAMUK running into a 6-minute dry spell from the field with no made field goals till Chayer converted at the rim through contact to push the lead back to 10 with 8:30 remaining. From that point, the Javelinas finished going 7 of 12 from the floor including an 8-0 as the game ended with the Javs coming away with the 15-point win, 71-56.
UP NEXT
On Saturday, the Javelinas will welcome the Eagles of Oklahoma Christian with tip-off set for 3 p.m.
To keep up with the Javelinas all season long visit javelinaathletics.com to find links to live stats and streaming information as well as a recap at the end of each contest. Fans can learn more about the Javelina men's basketball team 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.
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