LAREDO, Texas – In yet another down to the wire matchup, Texas A&M International men's basketball saw its 2-0 Lone Star Conference mark slip to 2-2 after a 79-73 overtime defeat at the hands of Arkansas Fort-Smith.
 
It was a slow offensive start for both teams as the score was just 13-12 in favor of the Lions (11-8, 5-3 LSC) at the under eight-minute media timeout.
 
The Dustdevils (10-5, 2-2 LSC) would fall behind 16-12 out of the timeout, but a quick 5-0 run gave TAMIU the lead.
 
UAFS countered with a run of 14-5 to take a 30-22 lead and held a 35-28 lead at the half.
 
Over the final 2:46, the Dustdevils (10-4, 2-1 LSC) uses a 9-2 run to take a 27-26 lead into the locker room.
 
The Lions lead grew to a game high nine after the half, but TAMIU fought back and took a 47-45 lead with 12:07 remaining.
 
After neither time held a lead greater than three for the next nine minutes, UAFS would open up a 66-60 lead and then 68-62 with 1:51 remaining.
 
In that final stretch, the Dustdevils outscored the Lions 7-1 to force overtime with the score tied 69-69.
 
Overtime didn't have the start TAMIU wanted, as UAFS opened the extra frame on an 8-0 run and held on to seal the victory 79-73.
 
On the afternoon, the Dustdevils shot just 21-of-44 (47.7%) from the floor, including 13-for-21 (61.9%) in the second half. Beyond the arc, TAMIU was 7-for-17 (41.2%) and made 24 of 32 free throw attempts.
 
Five Dustdevils entered double figures with junior La-Quiem Walker and senior Greg Bowie II leading the way with 14 points each.
 
Sophomore Michael Ozomah followed with 13 points, while freshman Tiras Morton had 12 points and junior Jermaine Drewey scored 11 points with five rebounds.
 
TAMIU looks to flip the script, as it takes the road for two games this coming week. The trip begins with a matchup against UT Tyler in Tyler, Texas at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 27.