DENVER, Colo. – Coming off their most profound victory of the season, Texas A&M International saw its season ended on Saturday in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Tournament – hosted by Metro State. The No. 7-seeded Dustdevils (22-9) took the court against No. 2 Tarleton State(28-2) exactly a week after claiming the Heartland Conference crown, but the Texans stood taller in the 92-56 victory.

The Dustdevils close their season with just their second appearance in the national tournament in program history. The team's 22 wins stand as a program high. With the conclusion of the Dustdevils' run through March, TAMIU will say goodbye to six seniors: All-Heartland Conference first teamer Matthew Culliver Jr., All-Heartland Defensive Player of the Year Jordan Clark, Damal Donaldson, Johnel Gray, Kevin Jefferson Jr. and Matthew Pritchett.

"This recruiting class, it is something special," TAMIU coach Bryan Weakley said. "To be able to accomplish what they have is amazing: the wins the have, the most wins in school history. It's hard to find."

On the court at the Auraria Event Center on Saturday, TAMIU struggled from the tip. The Texans outscored the Dustdevils 47-16 in the first half – essentially constructing their margin of victory in the first 20 minutes. TAMIU and the No. 3 nationally ranked Texans played each other point for point in the second half, with Tarleton edging TAMIU 45-40.

A trio of seniors – Gray, Culliver and Pritchett – made their finales count, combining for 31 points. Pritchett scored 11 points in 10 minutes off the bench, shooting 75 percent (3-for-4) from long range. Culliver played all but 11 minutes, scoring 10 points with four assists, three rebounds and three blocks. Gray rediscovered his scoring touch, sinking 10 points after scoring just seven in the last 10 games.

Jamie Farrie scored the Dustdevils' first four points, finishing with eight in 23 minutes. He also grabbed five boards. Deonnte Breedlove hit five points in just 13 miunutes after earning All-Tournament Team honors in the conference championship. Clark finished with four points in 30 minutes, also pulling in five rebounds.

Donaldson and Jefferson each scored three points, and Vadal Faniel scored a pair.

"All we did was try to play our hardest," Clark said. "It was a tough journey for us, and to see it get this far – to this point. Of course, we hate to lose like this, but it was really good to get to this point."

The Texans flexed with five players scoring 10-or-more points in less than 25 minutes played, respectively. They limited their turnovers to just five, while scoring 28 points off the Dustdevils' 15 giveaways.

"This (TSU) team is a very good group of long, athletic guys," Culliver said. "In the first half, we were all trying to do our own thing – we came out antsy and jittery. But we finally relaxed in the second half, realizing that we can play with these guys if we stick together and follow coach's gameplan, but it was already a deep hole."