KINGSVILLE, Texas - Resiliency has been the keyword for the Texas A&M-Kingsville men's basketball team and they proved it once again on Thursday night, erasing a 13 point deficit to take the victory over the Western New Mexico Mustangs in the final seconds, 60-58.
The Javelinas (5-12, LSC 3-9) have clinched back-to-back wins for the first time this season while the Mustangs (3-13, LSC 1-10) drop their seventh game in a row. It is also the third game in a row in the Steinke Physical Education Center that has come down to the final shot.
Baskets came easily to neither team in a low scoring first half as the Mustangs were the first team to reach 10 points at nearly seven minutes into the game, with the two squads combining for 17-of-62 shooting from the field in the first half. WNMU managed to put together a 16-2 run midway through the first stanza, taking advantage of an ice cold streak of shooting from the Hogs. However, the Javelinas fought back, cutting a 14 point lead down to just four points heading into the locker room.
The second half saw both offenses finally springing to life, shooting a much improved combined 22-of-49 from the field. Once more, the Mustangs put together a quick run to open up a 13 point gap with 13 minutes remaining in the game, but the Javelinas also once more would not go quietly.
The Hogs struggled from deep on the night, going only 4-of-22 from three-point range. However, two of those made three-pointers could not have come at better times.
Kendrick Washington found paydirt from behind the arc to tie the game, 52-52, with just over three minutes left. Two possessions later,
Jason Clark was good as well for only the fourth and final Javelina three-pointer of the night, extending a newly acquired TAMUK lead for four.
WNMU would not go quietly either, tying the contest once more at 58-58 entering the final 30 seconds of play.
C.J. Smith attempted the would-be go-ahead jumper as the clock ticked under 10 seconds, but was off the mark. Fortunately for the Javelinas, the ensuing rebound could not be controlled, spilling out of bounds in TAMUK's favor.
With one final chance, Smith drove the lane again, tossing up a floater that soared over two Mustang defenders and into the basket, giving the Hogs a two point lead. The ensuing half-court prayer from the Mustangs fell wide left, giving the Javelinas the win.
The Javelina defense put in work on the night, racking up nine steals and adding an additional nine forced turnovers for a total of 18 turnovers. Four Javelinas tallied at least two steals, including Smith, who averages 2.1 steals per game and leads the Lone Star Conference. Additionally,
Jordan Henderson and Clark added two blocks to the defensive performance.
The Hogs had little difficulty spreading the love on the offensive end of the floor as well as every Javelina who checked into the game got at least two points on the scoresheet.
Smith led the charge for the Javelina offense once again, finishing with 16 points on the night alongside a team-leading four assists as well as two rebounds.
In addition to his block, Clark led the squad in rebounds, totaling up six total boards, eight points, and an assist.
Similarly, Washington put up eight points and finished just behind Clark with five rebounds and an assist.
UP NEXT
The Javelinas take on the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds on Saturday, Jan. 27 with tipoff scheduled for 3 p.m. The Greyhounds dropped a similarly close game to TAMIU, 66-68.
The game will also be Coaches vs. Cancer.
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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