KINGSVILLE, Texas – For the first time in 16 days, Texas A&M International men's basketball took the floor and improved to 2-0 in the Lone Star Conference with a 65-61 victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville.
 
The Dustdevils (10-2, 2-0 LSC) were in a back and forth battle the entire way and the score proved so throughout.
 
Over the first 16:31 of the first half, both TAMIU and the Javelinas (8-2, 0-1 LSC) didn't hold a lead larger than four points, until the Dustdevils took a 24-18 lead with 3:29 remaining in the first half.
 
An 8-0 run by TAMUK followed to take a 26-24 lead, but TAMIU countered to score the final four points of the half and lead 28-26 at the break.
 
Out of the break, the Javelinas would regain the lead, with the teams yet again staying within three points of each other, alternating the edge, before the Dustdevils put together an 11-0 run from 12:06 remaining until 6:06 remaining to go ahead 54-43.
 
A 10-point, 63-53 lead with 1:00 left was in favor of the Dustdevils, but TAMUK wouldn't give up and would use a 8-2 run in the final minute to make the score a closer 65-61 final in favor of TAMIU.
 
On the day, the Dustdevils shot a superb 47.1% (24-for-51) from the floor and 53.3% (8-for-15) from deep. The free throw line was the only place that TAMIU didn't shoot well, going 9-for-20 in the game.
 
The Javelinas, on the other hand, shot 36.4% (20-for-55) in the loss, but were just 2-for-12 from three. At the free throw line, TAMUK converted 19 of 26 attempts.
 
Junior Jermaine Drewey had a career day as a Dustdevil, scoring a season high 26 points, including making a season high nine shots on 15 attempts from the floor. He also added three rebounds and two steals.
 
Fellow junior La-Quiem Walker was the only other Dustdevil to reach double figures, scoring 13 points to go alongside four rebounds.
 
Freshman Tiras Morton contributed seven points and a team high eight rebounds.
 
TAMIU returns to the floor in just two days, when they rematch the same Javelina team in a non-conference matchup in Laredo. Opening tip on Monday, Jan. 17 is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.