Box Score LAREDO, Texas – Texas A&M International hosted St. Edward's on Saturday in a battle of the Heartland Conference's first- and second-placed teams at the TAMIU Kinesiology and Convocation Building. The top-ranked Dustdevils (13-3, 6-0 Heartland) easily handled the rival Hilltoppers (7-6, 3-2 Heartland), 88-64 to stretch their lead to two games in the standings.
The victory stands as the program-record 13th consecutive since the team opened 0-3 at the Disney's NCAA Division II Tip Off West Coast Classic.
All five of the Dustdevils' starters tabbed double-digit point totals, led by Johnel Gray's game-high 19 points. It was the second game in a row that Gray paced the team. He played 31 minutes while dealing two assists and five rebounds.
Junior forward Vadal Faniel, a former Heartland Player of the Week, scored 15 points while grabbing a game-high nine rebounds in 21 minutes. Senior Damal Donaldson shot 5-for-10 (50 percent) from the field to score 15 points while making an assist, a steal and five rebounds. Senior point guard produced a double-double Matt Culliver Jr. hung 13 points and 11 assists with five rebounds and a steal. Jordan Clark was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field – including a tooth-rattling slam dunk in the first half – to score 11 points with seven rebounds, two assists and a steal.
Kevin Jefferson Jr. scored seven points, Will Wise had four, and both Jamie Farrie and Deonnte Breedlove scored two points.
The Dustdevils powered through the Hilltoppers post play with 54 points in the post, 11 points off St. Edward's nine turnovers, and 15 points from the bench.
The Dustdevils will recreate the No. 1 versus No. 2 ranked teams when new second-place ranked St. Mary's (11-3, 4-2 Heartland) visits on Jan. 18 at 3 p.m. If TAMIU wins, it will stand as the 14th consecutive win.
