LAREDO, Texas (January 11, 2018) – After overcoming a 12-point first half deficit, the Texas A&M International University men's basketball team comeback came up short in the final seconds in a 62-60 loss to Oklahoma Christian on Thursday night in front of 125 fans at the TAMIU KCB.
 
Jeremy Wright reached double figures for the first time in eight games with a team-high 16 going 6-of-14 from the field. Dan Milota was also in double figures chipping in 10 points pulling down four rebounds. Damon Leach had a career-night with nine points, six of those coming in the first intermission. The Dustdevils (7-9, 0-4 HC) held the Eagles (6-9, 2-2 HC) to 39.3% shooting from the field forcing 18 turnovers.
 
The Dustdevils had another slow start making one of their first 10 shots falling behind 14-2. Brendan Ortiz connected on TAMIU's first three of the evening at 11:36 to cut the deficit to nine, 14-5. Following a free throw from OC's Jordan Box at 10:05, TAMIU went on an 8-2 run over the next three minutes courtesy of layups from Leach, Kamari Robinson and Xabier Gomez making it 17-13.
 
A 9-2 run by the Eagles stretched the Dustdevils deficit back to double figures before Robinson hit his first 3-pointer of the evening to make it an 8-point game, 28-20, with less than four minutes remaining. Wright scored the next five points of the game getting the Dustdevils within two for the first time since 18 seconds into the game. OC would score the final five points of the half to make it 33-26 at half.
 
Shea Garland and Robinson converted a pair of and-ones under the 16-minute mark to get the Dustdevils within five, 40-35, heading in the first media timeout. Wright gave TAMIU their first lead of the night, 45-44, his third 3-pointer of the evening at 45-44. The senior guard wasn't done as he nailed another deep ball on the next time down the floor expanding the lead to a game-high two points.
 
After five straight points by the Eagles, Ortiz tied the game at 51-51 with another 3-pointer with under 10 minutes remaining. The teams would trade baskets over the next two minutes before Milota converted a three from the top of the key giving TAMIU a 55-53 lead.
 
The Dustdevils found themselves down three, 60-57, with under three minutes remaining after back-to-back empty positions.  Ortiz and Garland combined to go 3-of-4 from the charity stripe to tie the game at 60-60 at 1:17. After a missed 3-pointer from TAMIU, OC made two free throws in the final second handing the Dustdevils their fourth conference loss of the season.
 
The Dustdevils will host the Jets of Newman on Saturday, January 13, in the final game of a two-game home stand. Tipoff is set for 3:00 p.m.
 
PLAYER NOTES
Jeremy Wright
Wright got back to track on the offensive side of the ball reaching double figures with 16 points. He went 4-of-11 from 3-point range tying a career-high set back on Nov. 30 against Paul Quinn. He also recorded four assists adding three steals.
 
Damon Leach
Leach had his best offensive performance as a Dustdevil scoring nine points going a perfect 4-of-4 from the field. Six of his nine points came in the first half eclipsing the previous career-high of four set back against nationally-ranked Dallas Baptist on Nov. 11. He also converted his first free throw since going 2-of-2 against Southwestern Adventist on Dec. 3.