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LAREDO, Texas (February 16, 2018) – Texas A&M International University men's basketball will honor three seniors on Saturday, Feb. 17, when they take on Rogers State at 3 p.m. in their final game of the season at the TAMIU Kinesiology and Convocation Building. The game will be broadcast on the Heartland Conference Digital Network.
 
ABOUT TAMIU
A win over Rogers State would go a long way for a Dustdevil squad that is currently tied for the eighth and final Heartland Conference Tournament spot with St. Mary's with three games remaining. Head coach Bryan Weakley has historically been great at home during his six-year tenure with an overall record of 62-27 and 3-1 against RSU.
 
Jeremy Wright (11.6 ppg, 5.2 apg, 2.3 spg) is having one of the best seasons in program history as the senior ranks in the top-four in both assists and steals in a single season. The Gardena, Calif. product ranks first in the Heartland Conference in both categories and is one of nine Division II players to rank in the top 40 in both. His 58 steals are five short of breaking Matthew Culliver Jr.'s record set back in 2012-13. He has also been scoring at a high volume having reached double figures in seven straight games, one short of his career-high set earlier in the season. Brendan Ortiz (9.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg) will look to rebound after going 2-of-10 from the field on Thursday as the sophomore was instrumental in the Dusdevils recent three-game winning streak. He scored a career-high 17 points in TAMIU's overtime victory over OC last week making a pair of threes down the stretch.
 
Xabier Gomez (11.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg) is coming off arguably his best game as a Dustevil as he was aggressive on both ends of the floor resulting in a career-high in field goals, field goal attempts and steals. He also became the first Dustdevil to lead the team in points, rebounds and steal going for 21 points, six rebounds and five steals against nationally-ranked Arkansas-Fort Smith. His aggressiveness has paid off as he has gone to the free throw 14 times over the past two games converting on 11 of those. Kamari Robinson (10.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg) went for 18 points the last time these two teams met going 4-of-6 from the field and 4-of-4 from the charity stripe. Dan Milota (10.8 ppg, 3.8) returned to the floor for the first time in 23 days going 14 minutes against UAFS going 1-of-4 from 3-point range.
 
ABOUT ROGERS STATE
Located in Claremore, Okla. with an enrollment of 4,089, Rogers State is 16-9 overall and 7-6 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 at RSU. The Hillcats have dropped four of their last after winning five straight to start the new year.
 
The Hillcats come into the final game of a three-game road trip averaging 73.9 points per game shooting 44.9% from the field, 39.3% from three and 72.3% from the free throw line. They do most of their damage in the second half having outscored opponents 950-898 in the final 20 minutes.
 
Baron Smith Jr. (15.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg) is the top scoring option for RSU having scored in double figures in 18 games this season. The LaGrange, Ga. product is one of the top shooters in the conference averaging 44.4% from the field, 44% from three and 82.1% from the free throw line. He set a career-high of 38 against Arkansas-Fort Smith shooting 12-of-20 from the field and a perfect 10-of-10 from the charity stripe. Saint Hilaire (12.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg) has recorded two double-doubles in the last three games including a 28-point, 10 rebound performance against St. Edward's. He gets to the free throw line often having made 102 of his 137 freebies.
 
THE LAST TIME AROUND
The Dutstdevils comeback come up short in their first meeting with Hillcats back on Jan. 20 with RSU pulling away in the final minutes for a 68-56 victory. Brendan Ortiz was one of four Dustdevils in double figures with 13 shooting 4-of-11 from the field.
 
THE SERIES
The Hillcats lead the all-time series 5-4 after their win earlier in the season… RSU has won two straight games by a combined 28 points… The Dustdevis have never lost three straight in the series… TAMIU won the first ever meeting, 75-72, in Laredo on Dec. 19, 2013.
 
A TAMIU WIN WOULD…
Give them three straight wins on Senior Day dating back to 2016… Help them finish their 2017-18 home schedule with seven wins… Give them a one game lead over St. Mary's for the eighth and final tournament spot (assuming St. Mary's doesn't beat UAFS)… Give Bryan Weakley 98 wins for his career.
 
A TAMIU LOSS WOULD…
Would hand the Dustdevils back-to-back home losses for the fourth time this season… Keep them in a tie for the eighth and final tournament spot with St. Mary's… Be the first season sweep for the Hillcats since 2015.
 
THIS DAY IN DUSTDEVIL MEN'S BASKETBALL HISTORY…
The Dustdevils are 1-1 in games played on Feb. 17 with the last contest coming in 2011 against Arkansas-Fort Smith… TAMIU tamed the Lions that evening 82-74 in a game played in Laredo… The Dustdevils weren't as fortunate against St. Mary's in 2007 when they fell 77-63 in San Antonio.
 
A LOOK BACK AT THURSDAY
 The Dustdevils were unable to find their shooting touch on Thursday night as they fell to #19 Arkansas-Fort Smith 72-52. Even after forcing 18 Lion turnovers, TAMIU couldn't make baskets down the stretch as they shot 37% compared to the 61.9% of UAFS.
 
Xabier Gomez became the first Dustdevil to lead the team in points, rebounds and steals in a single game after going for a game-high 21 points, six rebounds and five steals. Jeremy Wright chipped in 10 points reaching double figures for the seventh consecutive game with eight assists.
 
UP NEXT
The Dustdevils finish the regular season with two road games starting with a trip to Austin for a midweek matchup against St. Edward's on Feb. 21.