Box Score LAREDO, Texas – Already in first place in the Heartland Conference, Texas A&M International maintained its 1-game lead over Arkansas-Fort Smith (15-3, 8-2 Heartland Conference) as both teams won on Thursday night.
The Dustdevils (16-4, 9-1 HC) dismantled Oklahoma Panhandle State (1-17, 1-8 HC), 98-88, at the TAMIU Kinesiology and Convocation Building. With only eight games remaining – just three at home – for the Dustdevils, the conference's top four teams are separated by just three games in the loss column. Only the top four full-member schools will qualify for the postseason.
On Thursday against OPSU, the Dustdevils completed the wire-to-wire victory while shooting 50 percent (35-for-70) from the field and 42.9 percent (9-for-21) from long range. Combined with only six missed free throws (19-for-24), TAMIU entered halftime with a 20-point lead.
Former Heartland Conference Player of the Week Vadal Faniel scored a game-high 21 points to complement his four assists and eight rebounds.
Three other Dustdevils joined Faniel with more than 15 points: Damal Donaldson scored 19, Johnel Gray scored 19 and Jordan Clark scored 18 points. Kevin Jefferson Jr. dropped double digits on the Aggies as well, scoring 12 points.
Donaldson and Clark all tied Faniel's eight rebound mark, while Gray grabbed seven.
TAMIU shot a astronomical 93.33 percent (14-for15) from the foul line in the second half, finishing the game in cold-blooded fashion.
The first-place Dustdevils will host Newman on Feb. 1 at 3 p.m. before taking off to face Arkansas-Fort Smith and Rogers State on the road. They will play their final two home games against Lubbock Christian and the University of Texas of the Permian Basin on Feb. 13 and Feb. 15, respectively.
