CLAREMORE, Okla. – With just five games remaining, only a game separates the Heartland Conference's top teams in the standings. First place Texas A&M International maintained its margin with a 80-73 victory over Rogers State at the Claremore Expo Center on Saturday, improving to 18-5 overall and 11-2 in league play.

The University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, the second place team, also won on Saturday to improve to 17-4 overall and 10-3 in Heartland play.

UAFS closes its season with its next two games on the road and its final three at home. The Dustdevils face an opposite challenge with their next two games at home and their final three on the road – with two of those three coming against St. Mary's and St. Edward's, the third and fifth place teams in the league.

On Saturday against RSU, the Dustdevils shot a strong game from all over the floor, finishing with five players – four starters – scoring 10 or more points. Those five players – Vadal Faniel, Jordan Clark, Deonnte Breedlove, Matthew Culliver Jr. and Johnel Gray – combined for all but 10 of the Dustdevils' points.

Faniel, a former Heartland Conference Player of the Week, finished with a team-high 19 points, three assists, two blocks and nine rebounds.

Clark dunked a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. He also dished an assist and stuffed two of Rogers State's shots.

Breedlove also scored 15 points with a rebound in just 12 minutes of play. He went 3-for-4 from downtown and 6-for-7 from the field.

Culliver scored 11 points with four boards, three assists and a block and a steal.

Gray scored 10 points with two rebounds and four assists. He also had a steal in 16 minutes.

Damal Donaldson scored six points and had three rebounds. Kevin Jefferson Jr. and Jamie Farrie each scored two points.

TAMIU led by as many as 19 points to end the first half, overpowering RSU in the paint by a 46-38 margin.

The Dustdevils will now return home to host Lubbock Christian at the TAMIU Kinesiology and Convocation Building on Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m.