KINGSVILLE, Texas – After a four-game road stint, the Texas A&M-Kingsville men's basketball team is back at home to take on the Western New Mexico Mustangs and the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds. The matchup against WNMU tips off on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. while the game against ENMU is scheduled for Saturday at 3 p.m.
The Javelinas (4-12, LSC 2-9) are coming off a 1-1 weekend, falling to nationally-ranked Dallas Baptist but getting back in the win column against UT Tyler.
Zyon Little showed out against DBU, leading the team in scoring with 14 points alongside six rebounds and two assists, while also leading the squad with three steals. Little also put up eight points against UT Tyler, grabbing an additional six rebounds and a steal.
C.J. Smith totaled a solid week in the scoring column as well, racking up 11 points against DBU and leading the team with 16 points against UT Tyler. He also led the squad in assist with three in both games. Smith snagged five more steals on the weekend, bringing his season total up to 33 – top of the Lone Star Conference and 43
rd in the nation.
Kendrick Washington and
Jordan Henderson turned in great weekends defensively. Washington grabbed 13 rebounds over the two games as well as a block and a steal. Henderson, meanwhile, came down with ten boards and put up four blocks.
The Javelinas have dominated the recent series with the Mustangs, leading 8-0 since 2017. The series against the Greyhounds has been much more back and forth, as the Javelinas currently hold a slim recent advantage, 5-3 since 2017 and 14-10 since 2007.
The game against WNMU on Thursday will be Pack the House while the game against ENMU on Saturday will be Coaches vs. Cancer.
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS
WNMU has struggled on the season, coming into the contest at 3-12 and 1-9 in the Lone Star Conference. The Mustangs' most recent results were losses to West Texas and Lubbock Christian, 73-103 and 61-71.
Cortaviaus Seales is the top scorer for the Mustangs, averaging 18.0 PPG. Seales is also a notable three-point threat, shooting 46.5 percent on season from behind the arc.
LaMarqus Merchant Jr. has also been a sparkplug for WNMU this season, leading the team in both assists and rebounds, as well as steals.
The Mustangs have had troubles holding on the ball, averaging the most turnovers per game in the conference. The Javelinas sit at third-highest in the LSC in steals per game at 8.9.
SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS
The Greyhounds come into the SPEC have won three of their last five games, sitting at 11-5 overall and 7-3 in the LSC.
Jahcoree Ealy has been stellar on offense for ENMU, averaging 21.4 PPG while also putting up the second-most assist and fifth-most rebounds on the team.
Three other Greyhounds average double-digit points per game, being Greg Johnson (14.9), Mario Whitley (11.9), and Lyron Bennett (10.3).
Johnson has been lethal from behind the arc alongside teammate Junior Hodnett. Both Johnson and Hodnett are averaging above 50 percent from three, with Johnson going 24-of-47 and Hodnett going 36-of-71 on the season.
ENMU has had little trouble sharing the ball this season, averaging 19.1 assist per game while remaining almost equal with their opponents in turnover margin.
Follow the Javelinas all season long by visiting javelinaathletics.com to find links to live stats and streaming information as well as a recap at the end of each contest. To keep up-to-date with Javelina Men's Basketball, follow the program on Facebook /JavelinaMBB or on X @JavelinaMBB. Watch your Javelinas live today on the Javelina Sports Network.
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