LAREDO, Texas – Texas A&M International men's basketball put a heartbreaking loss in the rearview mirror and pulled out a nail biter against UT Permian Basin 59-58.
 
The Dustdevils (7-1, 0-0 LSC) jumped ahead early with an 8-0 run to start the game, forcing an early Falcons (3-3, 0-0 LSC) timeout.
 
After UTPB worked to trim the deficit to just one point, TAMIU would regain an eight-point edge with 9:39 remaining. The lead would stay around there as the Dustdevils took a 34-26 lead into the locker room.
 
UTPB would trim the deficit in the second half and ended up tying the game 42-42 with 11:26 remaining.
 
After a Falcon three-pointer with 6:46 remaining to make the score 50-47 in favor of TAMIU, the Dustdevils went on a 9-2 run to open a 10-point lead of 59-49 with 4:15 left.
 
However, the Falcons down that final stretch would go on a 9-0 run to trim the score to 59-58 and not allow another score for TAMIU.
 
UTPB had the final possession of the game and a driving layup rimmed out at the buzzer as the Dustdevils survived 59-58
 
On the afternoon, the Dustdevils shot 50% (23-for-46) and 47.6% (10-for-21) from deep. TAMIU, however, was just 3-for-8 from the free-throw line.
 
The Falcons finished the game shooting 41.1% (23-for-56) from the floor and 31.6% (6-for-19) from three.
 
Three Dustdevils finished in double figures, with senior Greg Bowie II leading the way with 17 points on 7-for-12 shooting and 3-for-5 from deep.
 
Junior Jermaine Drewey followed with 15 points, making all his shots from three, going 5-for-7 behind the arc and 5-for-9 from the floor. He also added a game high seven rebounds.
 
Fellow junior La-Quiem Walker added 10 points and four rebounds to the cause.
 
TAMIU gets a well-deserved week off and prepares to meet Arlington Baptist on Saturday, Dec. 11. Tip-off from the KCB is scheduled for 3 p.m.