Men's Basketball 1/11/2013 10:11:00 AM

Men’s Basketball Falls Short In Upset Bid

Box Score

WICHITA, Kansas (January 10) – The TAMIU men’s basketball team turned the ball over 24 times and shot just 31 percent from the field in the second half, as no. 19 Newman University handed the Dustdevils a 78-69 loss Thursday night at Fugate Gymnasium in Wichita, Kansas.

After a very closely contested first half, the Jets took advantage of TAMIU’s shooting struggles in the second using a 16-5 run to take a 12 point lead. Newman led by as many 14 before the Dustdevils fought back, trimming the deficit down to five points with just 51 seconds remaining. With TAMIU forced to foul to slow the game down, the Jets sank four of their final six free throws to ice the game.

Matthew Culliver scored a season-high 26 points to lead the Dustdevils, knocking down 7-13 shots including 3-4 from three-point range. Damal Donaldson finished with 13 points and seven boards, while Kevin Jefferson Jr. and Felipe Vezaro each added nine points apiece.

Four players scored in double-figures for the Jets led by Marquis Cuyler and Frankie Drayton who finished with 11 apiece. Darrell Traylor and Shamar Acuay each added 10 points each. Newman shot 43.3 percent from the field (26-60) and shot 41.7 (5-12) percent from 3-point range.

Neither team could break away in the opening half, which featured seven ties and eight lead changes. Elhad Emerllahu gave the Jets their biggest lead of the game late in the first period, connecting on a layup to put Newman up 30-25. Culliver scored the next nine points for the Dustdevils as part of a 9-4 TAMIU run to tie the game at 34. Aided by a Damal Donaldson technical foul, the Jets closed the half on a 7-2 run to take a 41-36 lead into the break.

Trailing 45-42 with 17:41 remaining in the game, TAMIU went cold missing six straight shots and committing two turnovers, allowing the Jets to jump out to a 12 point lead after a 16-5 run. Minutes later Frankie Drayton extended the lead to 14 points before the Dustdevils began to chip away at the deficit. TAMIU scored 10 of the game’s next 15 points to pull within five at 75-69. The Jets connected on four of their final six free throw attempts to end the Dustdevils’ hopes of a comeback.

The loss drops TAMIU’s conference record on the season to 2-2 and 7-5 overall, while Newman remains unbeaten in conference play at 3-0. The team goes out of the frying pan and into the fire on Saturday, traveling to the University of Arkansas Fort-Smith to face a Lions team who is fresh off a nine-point win over St. Mary’s University. Tip off for Saturday’s game is slated for a 2 p.m. start.

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