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GAME NOTES

LAREDO, TEXAS (January 16, 2018) – The Texas A&M International University men's basketball team begins a three-game road trip with a trip to The Natural State for a Thursday night, Jan. 18, matchup against #23 Arkansas-Fort Smith. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Stubblefield Center. The game will be broadcast on the Heartland Conference Digital Network.
 
ABOUT TAMIU
Head Coach Bryan Weakley has to like what he has seen from his offense over the past two games where they have shot 48.1% (52-of-108) from the field and 42.9% from 3-point range (21-of-49). Their 85 points in Saturday's loss to Newman where the most they have scored against a Division II opponent this season.
 
Jeremy Wright (10.2 ppg, 5.0 apg) has been the leading scorer in back-to-back games for the first time in his two-year career. In two games last week, the Gardena, Calif. product averaged 20.5 points, 5.0 assists and 2.0 steals shooting over 50% from the field and 43% from 3-point range. He can do more than just scoring as he ranks eighth nationally in steals and 43^rd in total assists. Brendan Ortiz (9.0 ppg, 2.5 apg) has worked well with Wright in the backcourt including a 9-point performance against Newman making a pair of 3-pointers down the stretch to keep the Dustdevils in the game.
 
Xabier Gomez (12.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg) first season in Laredo has been up-and-down as the junior has hasn't scored in double-digits in back-to-back games since December. He is at his best when he is getting to the charity stripe as the Dustdevils are 4-1 when he attempts five or more free throws. With Wright and Ortiz finding their touch from 3-point range look for Gomez' assist numbers to go up as he dished out a career-five on Saturday.
 
Dan Milota (12.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg) had a strong second half against NU scoring 11 of his 13 points in the final 20 minutes. The senior forward has found a way to get his shots off whether it be down in the post or out beyond the arc. He is shooting 46.8% overall and 41.4% from three. She Garland (4.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg) has started alongside MIlota for the past four games where he is averaging 5.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. He is one the Dustdevils best offensive rebounds with 23 of his 44 rebounds coming on the offensive glass.
 
Kamari Robinson (10.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg) continues to come off the bench and produce as the senior has reached double-figures in nine games this season. His latest 18-point, four rebound performance against the Jets was one of his best shooting games of his career tying a career-high with seven field goals. Damon Leach (3.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg) has turned into another scoring option off the bench as the junior is averaging 5.4 points per game in conference play. He was a perfect 4-of-4 for a career-high nine points against Oklahoma Christian on Thursday.
 
ABOUT ARKANSAS-FORT SMITH
Located in Fort Smith, Ark. with an enrollment of 995, Arkansas-Fort Smith is 14-3 overall and 3-3 in Heartland Conference play. Josh Newman is currently in his 12^th season at the helm of UAFS men's basketball. During his tenure, he has lead the Lions to three conference championships, one conference tournament and three appearances in the NCAA Division II tournament.
 
After opening the season 13-0, the Lions have dropped three of their last four games with all of the losses coming away from home. UAFS averages 82.9 points per game shooting 42.9% from the field, 36.2% from beyond the arc and 69.4% from the free-throw line.   
 
UAFS's leading scorer, Darrion Strong-Moore (15.5 ppg) was named to the Top 100 Watchilst for the 2017-18 Bevo Francis Award. The Oklahoma transfer is one of the top shooters in the conference going 48.1% from the field, 43.4% from 3-point range and 81.0% from the free-throw line. He had score 10 or more points in 11 straight games before Dallas Baptist held him to five points last Saturday. Davaunta Thomas (13.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg) has been outstanding for the Lions this season registering two double-doubles including a massive 27/16 stat line against St. Edward's on Jan. 11. Ladarius Coleman (12.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg) is another athletic guard on the UAFS roster as the Memphis, Tenn. product can hurt teams on both the offense and defensive side of the ball. He ranks third in the conference in rebound while his 11 blocked shots are the fifth most in the Heartland.
 
THE SERIES
Saturday's game will be the 19^th meeting between the programs… The all-time series is tied at 9-9 with TAMIU having won the past two games by a combined eight points… The Dustdevils won the first-ever meeting, 63-40, on Jan. 2, 2010 in Laredo.
 
A TAMIU WIN WOULD…
End a three-game losing streak… Be their first conference win of the season, moving them to 1-5 in Heartland play… Be the second straight victory at the Stubblefield Center… Give them a 10-9 advantage in the all-time series… Be their first win of the 2018 calendar year.
 
A TAMIU LOSS WOULD…
Mark the first time in program history that the Dustdevils have lost six straight conference games… Be a season-high four game losing streak… Give the Lions a 10-9 advantage in the all-time series.
 
THIS DAY IN DUSTDEVIL MEN'S BASKETBALL HISTORY…
TAMIU is 0-2 in games played on Jan. 18 with both losses coming to St. Mary's… Johnel Grey had a game-high 28 points as the Dustdevils dropped a three-overtime thriller to the Rattlers, 87-85 on Jan. 18, 2014… TAMIU lost to St. Mary's 63-48 on Jan. 18, 2007 in Laredo.
 
A LOOK BACK AT SATURDAY
The Dustdevils dropped another heartbreaker on Saturday as they were unable to score in the final 10 seconds in a 86-85 loss to Newman. It was a frantic finish at the TAMIU KCB as the Dustdevils came up empty in back-to-back positions in the final 30 seconds dropping a third straight contest. In the loss, they had their best offensive performance of the season against Division II competition going 31-of-57 (54.4%) from the field and 13-of-28 (46.4%) from three.
 
Jeremy Wright continued to shoot the ball well going for a career-high 25 points going 9-of-14 from the field and 5-of-10 from three. The five 3-pointers was also a career-high for the senior guard. Kamari Robinson had another efficient game scoring 18 points shooting 7-of-10 including 4-of-5 from the free-throw line.  Dan Milota and Xabier Gomez also reach double figures scoring 13 and 11 respectively.
 
STAT OF THE WEEK
The Dustdevils are 4-2 on the season when Xabier Gomez scores the first points of the game.  
 
UP NEXT
The Dustdevils travel to Claremore, Okla. for a Saturday afternoon matchup against Rogers State. Tipoff is set for 3:00 p.m. at the Claremore Expo Center.