Box Score Fort Smith, Ark. – A Thursday night battle between the Heartland Conference's top two teams did not disappoint, as Texas A&M International fell to the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, 66-63, with the game hanging in the balance through the last possession.
The conference-leading Dustdevils (17-5, 10-2 Heartland) drew up a play and shot twice for what would be the game-tying 3-pointer to force overtime, but both shots found more rim than net. With the win, the Lions (16-4, 9-3 Heartland) draw just one game behind TAMIU in the standings, with just six games remaining.
TAMIU senior guard Matthew Culliver Jr. sniffed a triple-double by scoring a team-high 11 points, converting nine assists and pulling in seven rebounds while playing all but 10 minutes.
Right behind Culliver on the score sheet was former Heartland Conference Player of the Week Vadal Faniel, who scored 10 points and made five rebounds. Damal Donaldson scored nine points, and Deonnte Breedlove scored eight.
Will Wise came off the bench to score six points while starters Johnel Gray and Jordan Clark and Kevin Jefferson Jr. each scored five.
Big men Jamie Farrie and Curtis Trotter came off the bench to score two points apiece.
TAMIU will next travel to Claremore, Okla., to face Rogers State (13-7, 8-4 Heartland) on Feb. 8 at 3 p.m. before returning to the TAMIU Kinesiology and Convocation Building on Feb. 13 to host Lubbock Christian.
