KINGSVILLE, Texas - The Javelinas are heading on the road one more time in 2023 to Laredo, Texas as they take on the Texas A&M International Dustdevils on Saturday, Dec. 15 with tipoff scheduled for 3 p.m.

The Javelinas (2-7, LSC 0-4) are looking to get their first win in conference play on the board after a challenging opening slate against some of the top teams in the conference. The Dustdevils (5-5, LSC 1-3) are on a three-game losing skid of their own, with their lone conference victory coming in the opener against UT Permian Basin, 66-57.

C.J. Smith and Zyon Little have been on fire in the past few games for the Hogs, with both putting up new career-highs on the stat sheet. Smith posted a new career scoring-high on Dec. 2 against UT Permian Basin, racking up 27 points as well as four steals. Since conference play started, Smith has averaged a team-leading 18.0 points per game. He has also collected at least one steal in every game but one this season.

Little put up new career-highs in both scoring and rebounding his last time out against Lubbock Christian on Dec. 12, totaling 18 point and eight total rebounds - team-leading in both for the game. He has grabbed 16 total rebounds for the squad since the start of conference play and put up 29 points.

Kendrick Washington and Allen Singleton were big contributors for the team their last time out as well. Washington put up 11 points and four rebounds, including shooting 3-of-5 from behind the arc. Singleton was just behind Little in the rebounding department with seven boards while also adding five points and a steal.

The Javelinas hold a heavy lead in the series with the Dustdevils, leading 20-8 and taking 2 of the last 3 matchups. However, the Dustdevils snuck out with the win in the teams' last meeting, 65-64.

SCOUTING THE DUSTDEVILS

The Dustdevils are coming off of a heavy loss to West Texas A&M, 45-71, and are on a three-game losing streak while facing the same opposition that the Javelinas have.

Matthew Okoye is the leading scorer for TAMIU, putting up 13.5 PPG.'

Okoye is the only Dustdevil averaging more than 10.0 PPG so far this season.

TAMIU holds a slight advantage over their opponents on the boards, winning the rebounding battle by a 2.0 average.

The Dustdevils have also been relentless on defense, racking up 100 steals on the season - 35 more than their opponents.

The Dustdevils have shot an average of 44.5 percent from the floor but have struggled from behind the arc, shooting only 28.4 percent from downtown.