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GAME NOTES

LAREDO, Texas (January 19, 2018) –  The Texas A&M International University men's basketball team looks to bounce back against Heartland Conference leaders Rogers State on Saturday, Jan. 20. Tipoff is set for 3:00 p.m. at the Claremore Expo Center. The game will be broadcast on the Heartland Conference Digital Network.
 
ABOUT TAMIU
The Dustdevils will look to rebound after one of their worst performances of the season in a loss to No. 23 Arkansas-Fort Smith where they allowed a season-high 95 points. Head coach Bryan Weakley will have his team ready to compete hoping to end a four-game losing streak and pick up their first Heartland Conference win.
 
Xabier Gomez (12.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg) is one of four players to average double figures for a Dustdevils team that averages 67.3 points per game. The junior guard had a team-high 14 points in Thursday's loss to UAFS going 6-of-13 from the field making multiple 3-pointers for the seventh time this season.  He has also picked up his play on the defensive side of the ball recording two steals in consecutive games for the third time in his career.
 
Dan Milota (11.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg) is one of two Dustdevils to have started in all 18 games this season making at least one 3-pointer in 16 of those games. The senior big man will need to make his presence on both sides of the court if the Dustdevils are going to earn their first conference win of the season. Kamari Robinson (10.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg) returned to the starting lineup on Thursday after being one of the most reliable options off the bench for TAMIU in the previous 10 games. He has scored 10 or more points six times as a sixth man including a career-high 21 points against St. Mary's on Dec. 9.
 
Jeremy Wright (10.4 ppg, 4.9 ppg, 2.4 spg) is averaging 16.7 points per over the last three games including a career-high 25 against Newman last Saturday. After going through a rough patch during the middle of the season, the senior has regained his shooting touch having connected on 11 of his last 28 from 3-point range. Brendan Ortiz (9.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.3 apg) reached double figures for the second time in the past four games against UAFS making 2-of-7 from three. He has drastically improved from the free-throw line making 12 of his last 14 including 7-of-8 in conference play.
 
ABOUT ROGERS STATE
Located in Claremore, Okla. with an enrollment of 4,089, Rogers State is 13-5 overall and 4-2 in Heartland Conference play. Justin Barkley is in his eighth season as the head coach where he has won at least 16 wins in every season in Claremore. The Hillcats have been nearly unbeatable at home under Barkley posting a record of 95-12 (.888) including 8-1 in 2017-18.
 
The Hillcats dropped their first two conference contest of the season but have won four straight to put themselves in a three-way tie for the conference lead. They are 1-0 in their current three-game home stand after defeating St. Mary's 85-68 on Thursday.
 
Baron Smith Jr. (16.5 ppg, 2.6 apg) is the leading scorer for a Hillcat team that averages 76.2 points per game. The LaGrange, Ga. product has been at his best during conference play scoring in double-digits in all six games including a career-high 38 points against nationally-ranked Arkansas-Fort Smith on Nov. 30. Saint Hilaire (11.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg) has made an immediate impact for RSU after spending the last two years at Navarro College in Texas. The 6-2 guard is averaging 16.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game over the past five games after being inserted into the starting lineup. Chase Littlejohn (7.8 ppg) is the top 3-point threat for RSU shooting 48.8% (39-of-80) from beyond the arc. He had the hot hand against StMU on Thursday with 12 points going 4-of-7 from deep.
 
THE SERIES
Saturday's game will be the 9^th all-time meeting between the programs… The all-time series is tied at 4-4 with no team having won more than two consecutive games in the series… The Dustdevils won the first-ever meeting, 75-72, on Dec. 19, 2013 in Laredo.
 
A TAMIU WIN WOULD…
Be the first conference win of the season improving them to 1-6 in Heartland play… End a four-game losing streak… Be their first win in Claremore, Okla. since Feb. 8, 2014… Improve them to 3-11 against Division II opponents.
 
A TAMIU LOSS WOULD…
Drop them to 0-7 in Heartland Conference play… Be their first five-game losing streak since Jan. 2015… Help Rogers State keep pace in the Heartland Conference improving them to 5-2.
 
THIS DAY IN DUSTDEVIL MEN'S BASKETBALL HISTORY…
TAMIU is 0-1 games played on Jan. 20… The Dustevils lost to Incarnate Word 54-58 on Jan. 20, 2007 in Laredo… Angel Encinas scored a team-high 15 points adding eight rebounds and six assists in the loss to the Cardinals.
 
A LOOK BACK AT THURSDAY
It was a night to forget as the Dustdevils allowed a season-high 59 second half points in a 95-53 set back to #23 Arkansas-Fort Smith on Thursday night in Fort Smith, Ark. It was the second worst loss in program history and fifth loss by 20 or more points this season. TAMIU was unable to stop a Lions' attack that shot 64.4% from the field and 61.9% from three.
 
Xabier Gomez was the leading scorer for TAMIU with 14 points going 6-of-13 from the field and 2-of-5 from 3-point range. Brendan Ortiz added 10 points, two rebounds and one steal in 24 minutes before fouling out for the first time in his career. Jeremy Wright made it three straight games with two or more 3-pointers going 2-of-7 from deep.
 
RANDOM STAT OF THE WEEK
The Dustdevils are 6-4 on the season when scoring 30 or more points in the first half.
 
UP NEXT
The Dustdevils finish the three-game road trip on Wednesday, Jan. 24, against nationally-ranked Dallas Baptist. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.