Box Score LAREDO, Texas – Foul trouble threatened Texas A&M International on Saturday, but a buzzer-beating floater by Kevin Jefferson Jr. cemented a Heartland Conference victory at the Kinesiology and Convocation Building. Jefferson's teardrop reverberated throughout the Dustdevils' bench as they went on to defeat the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, 71-69.
It was the second dramatic victory in as many games for TAMIU (9-3, 2-0 HC). It entered Saturday's matchup after edging Rogers State, 75-72, on Thursday.
Senior Johnel Gray led the Dustdevils with 15 points, two assists and a steal through a limited 22 minutes because of his four personal fouls. Jefferson and Jamie Farrie followed him with 12 points each, and former Heartland Player of the Week, Vadel Faniel, dropped nine on the Lions (7-3, 0-2 HC).
Both Damal Donaldson and Jordan Clark scored seven points, while Deonnte Breedlove scored five and Matthew Culliver Jr. scored four.
The officials' whistles hindered the Dustdevils, forcing a more prevalent than usual rotation. Culliver fouled out with 3.5 minutes remaining and only played 27 minutes. Joining Gray with four fouls were big men Faniel and Donaldson, while Breedlove was limited with three. TAMIU played only Jefferson (30 minutes) and Clark (35) in 30 or more minutes in the game.
But it was Jefferson that would have the final say, not the officials. He drove the lane with 3 seconds on the clock and the score tied at 69, floating his shot from inside the free throw line. It sunk and gave the Lions no chance for redemption as they already expired all their timeouts.
TAMIU will return to action with two straight conference road games on Jan. 2 (at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin) and Jan. 4 (at Lubbock Christian). The Dustdevils return to the TAMIU KCB on Jan. 9 to take on McMurry at 7:30 p.m.
