LAREDO, Texas - It was a low scoring affair on Saturday afternoon as the Texas A&M-Kingsville men's basketball team fell to the Texas A&M International Dustdevils In Laredo, 45-48.
The Javelinas (2-8, LSC 0-5) remain winless in conference play heading into the holiday break. The Dustdevils (6-5. LSC 2-3) snap a three-game losing streak.
Both teams started the game struggling to find the bottom of the hoop, with the scoring sitting at only 5-5 as five minutes ticked off of the first half clock. It was not be until 11:07 left in the half that the first of the teams finally reached the double digits, with TAMIU leading 10-5.
The offense picked up as 10 minutes were left in the half, with the teams trading baskets. The Dustdevils managed to stretch their lead to nine, but the Javelinas reeled them back in with a run of their own to trim the lead back down to three. The advantage remained that way heading into the half, as the Dustdevils held the lead, 28-25.
Defense for both squads continued to hold strong in the second 20 minutes as the offense pace continued to be slow. The Javelinas took the lead for the first time in the contest with 16:58 left on the clock off a
Kendrick Washington jumper, 29-28, but the Dustdevils snatched the lead right back two possessions later.
TAMIU was not able to stretch the lead once more like the first half, as the Javelinas continued to battle and keep the lead within two possessions for the rest of the game. Trailing by three with 2:36 left in the game,
Zyon Little nailed a three-pointer to even contest heading down to the wire. The Dustdevils responded on the ensuing possession to regain a slim lead and took advantage of a Javelina offensive foul on the other end to extend the lead to 46-43.
C.J. Smith drove the lane to lay it in, bringing the lead once more to a single point with less than a minute remaining. However, TAMIU responded once more at the opposite end with two points of their own. With less than ten seconds left, the Javelinas missed the tying three-point shot and the Dustdevils pounced on the loose ball to secure the win.
Smith was the offensive lifeblood for the team on the afternoon, scoring or assisting on 28 of the squad's 45 points. He finished with 22 points on 9-of-16 shooting, as well as two assists and three rebounds. He also nabbed a steal as well, keeping his streak alive. Smith has scored more than 20 points in three of his last four games and more than 10 points in four of his last five.
Six different Javelinas recorded a block, led by Little with two. Additionally, four Javelinas recorded a steal, led by Washington and
Marcus Jones-Green with two each.
Jones-Green also led the squad on the night in assists and rebounds, recording five and six respectively. The figures are a season-high for Jones-Green in rebounding and a new career-high in assists.
UP NEXT
The Javelinas get a well-deserved rest for the holidays before coming back on New Year's Eve for a non-conference matchup against Mary Hardin-Baylor.
