Kingsville - Texas A&M-Kingsville looks to bounce back Saturday afternoon when it hosts St. Mary's University at the Steinke Physical Education Center, with tip-off set for 3:00 p.m.
The Javelinas (10-11, 7-6 LSC) are still stinging from Thursday night's heartbreaking 75-80 loss to St. Edward's, a game that saw TAMUK claw back from a 10-point deficit in the final five minutes only to fall just short. Bryson Goldsmith's potential game-tying layup was blocked with 32 seconds remaining, and despite Jadon Sautter's clutch three-pointer in the closing seconds, the Javelinas couldn't complete the comeback.
Now sitting tied for seventh place in the conference standings, the Javelinas find themselves in a crucial stretch of the season. With West Texas A&M just ahead at 7-6 and St. Mary's tied for fifth at 8-4, every game carries significant postseason implications as the LSC tournament picture continues to crystallize.
While Thursday's loss was tough to swallow, there were plenty of positives to build on. The Javelinas dominated the glass, outrebounding the Hilltoppers by 16 and setting a season-high with 51 total rebounds - their most since the 2021-22 season. Daniel Sanchez led that effort with eight boards while adding 14 points, continuing his emergence as a reliable two-way threat.
The balanced scoring attack that has defined TAMUK's season was on full display. Goldsmith paced the Javelinas with 15 points, Sautter contributed 13, while Allen Singleton and Nate Garcia each reached double figures with 11 and 10 points respectively. That depth and ability to generate second-chance opportunities will be crucial against a St. Mary's team that battles hard on the boards.
St. Mary's (15-5, 8-4 LSC) enters Saturday riding a three-game winning streak. The Rattlers average 73.2 points per game and are led by Damani Claxton's 14.9 points per contest, with Justin Belt adding 10.9 points and a team-high 5.0 rebounds. Wayne Wiggins (9.2 PPG) and Olaverr Camacho (9.0 PPG, 7.1 RPG) provide additional scoring punch. The Rattlers have struggled on the road this season with a 3-2 away record.
With a 6-4 record at the SPEC this season, the Javelinas will look to protect home court. If TAMUK can replicate Thursday's dominant rebounding performance and limit turnovers, they'll have an excellent chance to get back in the win column and climb back up the standings.
Tip-off for Saturday's contest is set for 3:00 p.m. CST at the SPEC. The game will be available on FloCollege, with live updates on social media at @JavelinaMBB.
