AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas A&M-Kingsville men's basketball team got started on the second round of Lone Star Conference play as they were on the road to take on the St. Edward's Hilltoppers. A close game in the first half, a cold streak at the start of the second allowed SEU to pull away and take the win, 67-85.
The Javelinas (5-14, LSC 3-11) drop their second game in a row. St. Edward's (15-7, LSC 8-5) move to 4-3 in their last seven games.
The first half saw a slow start offensively for both squads before baskets started regularly flowing around the halfway point of the half. The Javelinas and the Hilltoppers were equally match in the first 20 minutes, with neither squad able to open up a lead greater than a brief six points.
As the second half started, the Hilltoppers struck first and fast as the Hogs struggled to get back on the board coming out of the locker room. SEU took advantage of the Javelina cold streak, quickly expanding their lead from three points to 13 within the first five minutes of the half.
The Hogs finally managed to get going in the second half, bringing the lead back down to six before another cold streak hit the team. Meanwhile, the Hilltoppers kept a steady pace on the offensive end, opening up another lead that this time the Javelinas could not trim back down to take the victory.
The Javelinas shot 49.1% from the floor on the night but struggled from deep, only going 4-of-16 from behind the arc. The Javelinas were also outrebounded by a considerable margin, losing the battle on the boards 22-34, leading to an additional seven shots for SEU.
Kavon Booker led the scoring for the Javelinas on a night where every Hog who saw the floor got on the scoresheet. Booker put up 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting and led the team from deep as well, going 2-of-3.
C.J. Smith and
Kendrick Washington came in behind Booker with nine points each. Washington snagged a steal and a block defensively. Smith put up two assists as well. This is the first game since Nov. 11 against Chadron State that Smith did not get at least one steal.
Jordan Henderson was the top rebounder for the team, bringing down five rebounds as well as totaling eight points.
Andre Walker II put up the most assists for TAMUK with three. He also grabbed three rebounds and was good once from three-point range.
On the defensive end,
Marcus Jones-Green led the team with three steals, also putting up seven points and two rebounds.
UP NEXT
The Javelinas travel to San Antonio to take on St. Mary's on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 3 p.m. Last time out against the Rattlers, the Javelinas picked up their first conference victory on a half-court buzzer beater in overtime.
