LIVE STATS | VIDEO | GAME NOTES

LAREDO, Texas (February 20, 2018) – The Texas A&M International University men's basketball team enters the final week of the regular season with everything to play for starting with a midweek matchup against St. Edward's on Wednesday, Feb. 21. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Recreation and Convocation Center in Austin, Texas. The game will be broadcast on the Heartland Conference Digital Network.
 
ABOUT TAMIU
The Dustdevils control their own destiny as a pair of wins over the final week of the season would guarantee them a spot in the conference tournament and a shot at the seventh seed. They are holding opposing teams to 65.0 points per game which ranks 12^th nationally but have only scored over 60 points in two of their past nine games.
 
Jeremy Wright (11.7 ppg, 5.2 apg) is having one of the best seasons in program history as he ranks in the top-five in steals and assists. The senior is one of nine players to rank in the top-40 nationally in total steals and assists. His scoring has also improved having reach double figures in eight straight games tying a career-high. Brendan Ortiz (8.9 ppg) joins Wright in the backcourt and will look to regain his shooting mojo after going 0-of-5 from the field on Saturday against Rogers State. He was a driving force in the Dustdevils three-game winning streak earlier in the month make big shot after big shot in crucial moments.
 
The Dusdevils not only rely on Xabier Gomez (11.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg) to score but to also guard the opposing team's top playmaker. The junior is on the court nearly the whole game having played 30 or more minutes in the past 11 games. He is at his best when he is driving to the basket and getting to the free throw line. Kamari Robinson (10.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg) has flourished since being inserted into the lineup in January. He is a prototypical stretch four who can stretch the defense but crashes the board at a high rate evident by his 5.5 rebounds per game. Dan Milota (10.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg) is getting back to his old self after missing games earlier in the season due to an injury. Much like Robinson, the senior big man has the potential to shoot the three but also has a strong post game.
 
ABOUT ST. EDWARD'S
Located in Austin, Texas, with an enrollment of 4,056 students, St. Edward's is 15-11 overall and 5-9 in Heartland Conference play. The Hilltoppers are coached by Andre Cook who picked up his 250^th career win against St. Mary's in their first meeting of the season. Cook was hired in 2009 and has led his team to three straight conference tournament appearances.
 
The Hilltoppers will look to right the ship as they have lost seven of their past nine games including two straight home. They have no problem scoring a they rank first in the conference in scoring offense at 87.7 points per game but are also allowing more than 80 points.
 
Landon Goesling (22.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg) is the only player in the conference to average more than 20 points per game and is coming off his third 30 point of the season against Dallas Baptist on Saturday. The junior can score from all over the floor shooting 46.6% from the field and 85.4% from the free throw line. Dorian Lopez (13.5 ppg, 7.8 rpg) is one of the top post players in the conference with nine double-doubles including a 31-point, 10 rebound performance against Eastern New Mexico earlier in the season. James Taylor (11.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg) does all of his damage coming off the bench as he has reached double figures 18 times in just 16.9 minutes per game.
 
THE LAST TIME AROUND
The Dutstdevils held the Heartland's top scoring team to a season-low in points in their 65-60 win on Jan. 27 ending a six-game winning streak. They outshot the Hilltoppers 45.7% to 36.5% with the teams combing to shoot 46 free throws.
 
Kamari Robinson recorded his second career double-double going for 15 points and 11 rebounds. Jeremy Wright chipped in 15 points dishing out eight assists and going 7-of-9 from the free throw line. Xabeir Gomez and Brendan Oritz both reached reached double figures scoring 13 and 12 respectively.
 
THE SERIES
The Dustdevils lead the all-time series 12-11 breaking a deadlock with their win earlier in the season… TAMIU has won two straight in the series for the first time since winning nine in a row from 2010 to 2014… The Hilltoppers won the first ever meetin, 58-51, in Laredo on Dec. 21, 2006.
 
A TAMIU WIN WOULD…
Give them sole possession of the eighth and final tournament spot… Extend their winning streak to three games in the all-time series… Give them their first win in Austin since Jan. 14, 2016… Be the first season sweep for the Dustdevils since the 2013-14 season… Give Bryan Weakley 98 career wins, two short of becoming the first coach in program history to reach 100.
 
A TAMIU LOSS WOULD…
Make Saturday's finale against St. Mary's a winner take all contest for the eighth and final tournament spot… Clinch a spot in the tournament for the Hilltoppers… End the Dustdevils two-game winning streak in the series… Drop TAMIU to 5-7 all-time in Austin.
 
THIS DAY IN DUSTDEVIL MEN'S BASKETBALL HISTORY…
The Dustdevils are 2-1 on games played on Feb. 21 with the last contest coming back in 2015 when they defeated Dallas Baptist 66-60 on the road… They were also victorious against Oklahoma Christian in 2013 with Johnel Grey scoring a game-high 20 points… Their only loss came at the hands of Bacone College during their first season back in 2003-04.
 
A LOOK BACK AT ROGERS STATE
The Dustdevils held a one-point advantage at half time but were unable to make shots down the stretch as they fell 58-47 to Rogers State on Saturday in Laredo. They shot 32.6% from the field including a stretch of more than 12 minutes without a basket as RSU swept the season series for the first time since 20140-15.
 
Jeremy Wright had a team-high 14 points going 6-of-6 from the free throw line with five assists. Fellow senior Kamari Robinson also reached double figures in his final home game going 2-of-6 from 3-point range.
 
UP NEXT
The Dustdevils head to San Antonio for the season finale on Saturday, Feb. 24, against St. Mary's. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m.