Box Score
LAREDO, Texas – Texas A&M International faced regional rival and sister school Texas A&M-Kingsville for the second time in 12 days, eventually reigning victorious for a second time, 99-90, on Wednesday night at the TAMIU Kinesiology and Convocation Building.
The Dustdevils saw five produce double-digit games, including senior and team captain Matt Culliver Jr.'s game-high 24 points. Culliver wasn't done with there, dealing 10 assists, a blocked shot and a steal while shooting 10-for-12 from the free throw line and 4-for-5 from the 3-point arc.
He contributed to the Dustdevils perfect 7-for-7 from long range performance in the second half. Culliver played all but one minute in the game, leading the Dustdevils to a 5-3 record while TAMUK fell to 3-4.
With the win, TAMIU sweeps TAMUK for the season.
"I thought we just couldn't get in a rhythem in the first half," TAMIU coach Bryan Weakley said. "I thought our seniors didn't play with much passion and the refs were calling it tight – that took away our aggression.
"But with (about eight minutes left in the second half), our seniors started talking and really believing in each other. That was our big push."
Joining Culliver with a double-double, TAMIU junior forward Vadel Faniel hung 23 points and 15 rebounds on the Javelina to complement his three assists in 32 minutes of action. Senior center Damal Donaldson (13 points, 4 blocks, 2 assists, 1 steal), senior guard Kevin Jefferson Jr. (14 points, 4 assists) and junior guard Deonnte Breedlove (10 points) each scored in double figures. Seniors Jordan Clark (7 points) and Johnel Gray (6 points) contributed as well, while junior center Curtis Trotter sunk a pair of crucial free throws to finish with two points.
"Our seniors really showed some fire in their chest in the second half," Weakley said. "We play a physical brand of defense, but it led to a tough and exciting game. I thought our seniors stepped up, like Jordan and Kevin and Matt – they all played good defense and led – while Deonnte and Vadel stepped up big time for us."
The Dustdevils dominated the Javalinas with 36 points in the paint and 26 points from their bench, but the score never stretched out of TAMUK's reach. The visitors tied the game on five separate occasions, but they only seized the lead twice – with nearly two minutes left in the first half and at 73 with nearly seven minutes remaining.
The Dustdevils and Javelinas lit each other up with less than four minutes remaining. In a tit-for-tat progression, Gray drilled a trey from the far corner before TAMUK's Ronald Scott answered with a 3 of his own. With 3½ minutes remaining on the next play, Jefferson shot the exclamation point through the Javelinas' heart with a top-of-the-key 3-pointer.
TAMUK never recovered from that point, trailing 84-81 before eventually falling.
"We have to keep focused and try to act like we did in the final stretch – especially in tight games," Weakley said. "These non-conference games are preparing us for our (Heartland) Conference schedule, because those games will not be easy either."
The Dustdevils return to action, trying to streak to six consecutive wins, against Southwestern Adventist at the KCB on Saturday at 8 p.m. The two teams will meet again at the KCB on Sunday at 2 p.m.
