LIVE STATS | VIDEO | GAME NOTES

LAREDO, TEXAS (December 8, 2017) – The Texas A&M International University men's basketball opens Heartland Conference play on Saturday, Dec. 9, against St. Mary's at 3 p.m. at the TAMIU Kinesiology and Convocation Building. The game will be broadcast on the Heartland Conference Digital Network.
 
ABOUT TAMIU
The Dustdevils enter Saturday's game on a three-game winning streak for the first time this season after an impressive showing at the Courtyard Marriott Classic last weekend. If TAMIU is going to defend their title it will be on the defensive side of the ball as they rank first in the conference and seventh nationally allowing just 61.2 points per game.
 
Dan Milota (12.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg) has scored in double figures in all four games last week going 18-of-35 from the field and 5-of-16 from 3-point range. He also tied a career-high in rebounds with six against Southwestern Adventist on Sunday. Xabier Gomez (12.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg) earned all-tournament honors at the Courtyard Marriot Classic after scoring 36 points, seven rebounds and six assists in two Dustdevil victories.
 
 Jeremy Wright (11.6 ppg, 5.0 apg, 2.7 spg) is coming off one of the best all-around games of the season for any Dustdevil with five points, five rebounds, five assists and a career-high seven steals in the win over SWAU. Danny Spinuzza (4.8 ppg, 3.3 apg) has embraced the starting role over the past three games with 24 points going 9-of-17 from the field while dishing out 20 assists and nine rebounds. His 10 assists against Paul Quinn were the most by any Dustdevil since Dec. 7, 2013.
 
Kamari Robinson (10.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg) has had his best game this season coming off the bench including a double-double against Texas A&M-Kingsville on Nov. 24 in Laredo. He has expanded his range as a senior having made at least one 3-pointer in five straight games. Another key figure off the bench this past weekend was Shea Garland (5.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg) as the Las Vegas, Nev. product reached double figures twice.
 
ABOUT ST. MARY'S
Located in San Antonio, Texas, with an enrollment of 3,567 students, St. Mary's is 3-8 on the season. The Rattlers are coached by Jim Zeleznak (206-153) who is in his 13th year at StMU. He has led the Rattlers to the NCAA tournament five times including four straight from 2011-2015.
 
The Rattlers fell to St. Edward's, 90-76, on Wednesday night in Austin in their conference opener. Petar Radojicic (12.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg) scored 22 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in the Battle of the Saints. The junior is the lone StMU player in double figures in scoring while shooting a team-high 51.9% from the field. Radojicic is one of three players over 6-feet-10 on the Rattler as Daniel Hurst (3.3 ppg) and Zach Jarzombek (2.2 ppg) will add depth off the bench.
 
Juwan Green (9.4 pp, 2.6 rpg, 2.5 apg) has scored in double figures in two straight games including a 13-point, six assists and four rebound performance against Paul Quinn at the Courtyard Marriot Classic. The junior guard scored a career-high 20 points going 11-of-12 from the free-throw line earlier in the season against Regis. Robbie Benavides (3.0 ppg, 4.1 apg) played a career-high 37 minutes on Wednesday dishing out a career-high 10 assists. The San Antonio product now has 25 assists over his past three games.
 
THE SERIES
Saturday's game will be the 28^th meeting between the two programs… The Dustdevils are 9-18 all-time and 5-7 at home against St. Mary's in a series that dates back to the 2003-04 season when StMU defeated TAMIU 76-65, in Laredo on Jan. 2, 2004… TAMIU has won four of the last four games by a margin of 10.8 points…
 
A TAMIU WIN WOULD…
Avenge a 63-60 loss to StMU in last year's Heartland Conference Quarterfinals... Make Bryan Weakley 5-0 in his last five conference openers… push the Dustdevils home win streak over the Rattlers to three games… Make TAMIU three games over .500 for the first time in the season.
 
A TAMIU LOSS WOULD…
End a three-game winning streak for the Dustdevils and drop them back to .500 for the third time this season… End a four-year run streak of opening conference play with a win… mark the first time since Feb. 19, 2015 that the Dustdevils lost at home to StMU.
 
THIS DAY IN DUSTDEVIL MEN'S BASKETBALL HISTORY…
The Dustdevils are 1-0 on games played on Dec. 9… TAMIU defeated Southwestern (Texas) 63-46 on Dec. 9, 2006.
 
A LOOK BACK AT SUNDAY
The Dustdevils 67-36 victory over Southwestern Adventist on Sunday at the TAMIU KCB extending their all-time series lead to 8-0. It was the defense that made a statement holding an opponent to 36-points for the second game en route to their third straight win.
 
Kamari Robinson was one of four TAMIU players in double figures as the Dustdevils shot 41.8% from the field and 42.3% from 3-point range. The senior came off the bench to go 6-of-10 from the field with nine rebounds. TAMIU scored 31 points, 12 of those of the fast break variety, off 24 turnovers from Knights.
 
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
The Dustdevils rank in the Top-20 nationally in three different categories entering Saturday, scoring defense, assists and steals. TAMIU is holding opposing teams to 61.2 points per game which ranks 7^th nationally while their 171 total assists are the seventh-most in Division II.
 
Individually, senior Jeremy Wright ranks in the Top-25 nationally in three different categories. The Gardena, Calif. product ranks fourth in total steals (27), 21^st in steals per game (2.7) and 24th in total assists (50).
 
 
UP NEXT
The Dustdevils will welcome conference leaders, Dallas Baptist, to the TAMIU KCB on Saturday, Dec. 16. for a 2 p.m. tip off.