Feb. 19, 2011
Final Stats
Texas A&M International University's men's basketball program took another big step forward with a dramatic 66-64 win over Dallas Baptist on Saturday afternoon at the TAMIU Kinesiology and Convocation Building. The win over DBU ensures that the Dustdevils will at least tie for the Heartland Conference regular season title while also locking up a spot in the league's upcoming postseason tournament.
A TAMIU win in next Saturday's regular season finale at St. Mary's or a UT-Permian Basin loss in either of its final two league games will give the Dustdevils the outright regular season title and the top seed in the four-team Heartland Conference Tournament. UTPB closes out the regular season with two road games, at Dallas Baptist on Monday and at St. Edward's on Thursday.
TAMIU (19-8, 8-3 Heartland) started the game with a 10-2 run en route to a 34-29 halftime lead. DBU (13-10, 5-5) took its first lead at 43-42 on a lay-up by Jared Whitmire at the 13:35 mark of the second half.
The teams would exchange the lead nine times over the next several minutes until DBU went on a 9-0 run to take a 58-53 lead at the 6:52 mark.
Dustdevil junior Evan Matteson took over at that point, sparking a 9-4 run with a short jumper and free throw at the 5:16 mark. Matteson scored seven of the nine points scored in the run, capping it off with a short jumper at the 3:03 mark to give TAMIU a 64-62 lead.
DBU tied the score 64-64 on a lay-up by Whitmire at the 1:22 mark, setting up a dramatic final 60 seconds of regulation. Will Faiivae missed a lay-up on TAMIU's next possession and DBU got the rebound and a chance to tie or take the late lead.
The Dustdevils would not be denied, however, with Matteson and Faiivae stepping up in a clutch situation to lead TAMIU to a landmark win.
Matteson took a charge from DBU's Nick Fox with 19.2 seconds remaining to give his team the ball and a last shot for a win. A couple of timeouts were then called before Faiivae penetrated the lane for a tricky lay-up with 2.7 seconds remaining to give TAMIU a 66-64 lead.
DBU had a chance for a desperation shot but that shot was launched from half court and came nowhere close to the rim.
Matteson and Faiivae combined for 35 points and 13 rebounds, with Faiivae leading the way with 18 points and seven rebounds and Matteson contributing 17 points and six rebounds. Faiivae also finished with a team-high three blocks.
Ryan McLucas also finished in double-figures with 12 points.
