Box Score LAREDO, Texas (December 19, 2017) – Junior Xabier Gomez scored a game-high 18 points as the the Texas A&M International University men's basketball team dropped a 71-48 decision to #22 Texas A&M-Commerce on Tuesday evening. With the loss, the Dustdevils drop to 6-7 overall while the Lions improving to 11-1.
 
Gomez was one of two Dustdevils in double figures with 18 points on 5-of-8 shooting while pulling down six rebounds. Brendan Ortiz scored 11 points on 3-of-9 shooting including 2-of-7 from 3-point range. The Dustdevils were held to a season-low 25% from the field while the Lions shot 54.9%.  
 
A pair of 3-pointers from Ortiz and Gomez propelled the Dustdevils to a 6-2 lead in the first two minutes of the contest. With the Lions up 9-6, Gomez hit his second three of the evening to tie the game at 9-all at 14:25.
 
The Dustdevils then went cold from the field making one shot over the final 14 minutes of the first half handing themselves a 23-point deficit, 36-13, at the first intermission.
 
Bryan Weakley's team played much better in the second half getting the deficit down to as low as 13 just before the under-8 media timeout on a pair of free throws from Jeremy Wright. A Dan Milota layup at 6:36 put the Dustdevils within 14 but that was the closest they would get as the Lions responded with a 6-0 run of their own.
 
Following the Christmas break, the Dustdevilsl head to California for games against West Coast Baptist College on Dec. 29 and an exhibition with Long Beach State on Dec. 30. All home games are broadcast on the Heartland Conference Digital Network.
 
PLAYER NOTES
Xabier Gomez
Gomez scored a game-high 18 points leading the Dustdevils in scoring for the sixth time this season. He made a career-high five 3-pointers going 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. He also tied for the team lead with six rebounds giving him five or more rebounds for the fourth time.
 
Brendan Ortiz
Robinson scored in double figures for the second straight game and third overall. He made a career-high four free-throws going 4-of-6 from the charity stripe. He has started in two of the past three games after missing five games due to injury.
 
Jeremy Wright
Wright recorded five assists and three steals on a night where he went 1-of-11 from the field. It marks the 10^th game this season he has lead the team in assists and 12^th with three or more assists.