FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Texas A&M International men's basketball opened play in the Mt. McKinley Bank North Star Invitational against host Alaska Fairbanks, defeating the Nanooks 65-56.
 
Over the first six minutes of game action, TAMIU (5-0, 0-0 LSC) held a lead as many as eight points on multiple occasions to set the tone.
 
At the 11:14 mark, Alaska Fairbanks tied the game at 15-15, but would never take the lead as the Dustdevils held the positive edge for all but 1:28 seconds of the half, which was time the game spent tied, taking a 31-25 lead into the locker room.
 
Out of halftime, the Nanooks would push closer, cutting the score to 39-36, but TAMIU would utilize a 9-0 run over 3:38 seconds to open its largest lead, 48-36.
 
Alaska Fairbanks would trim the deficit to as little as four a couple times between the six-minute mark and 3:30 mark, but in the final minute, the Dustdevils opened the lead back to double figures and secured the victory.
 
For the game, TAMIU shot just under 41.1%, going 23-for-56 from the floor, but struggled from behind the arc, going just 3-for-22. The Dustdevils did make 16 of their 25 free-throw attempts.
 
On the other side, the Nanooks finished 17-for-40 (42.5%) from the floor, and 2-for-7 (28.6%) from three. Alaska Fairbanks was pressured by the TAMIU defense, as it turned the ball over 21 times.
 
The Dustdevils had their fifth different leading scorer in as many games, as junior John Achebe paced the team with 11 points, adding three rebounds and four steals.
 
Senior Jermaine Drewey scored 10 points alongside five rebounds, while graduate student Greg Bowie and junior Tyrese Davis each chipped in eight points.
 
Reigning Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week, sophomore Tiras Morton added seven points, seven rebounds, one block and a steal.
 
TAMIU wraps up the Mt. McKinley Bank North Star Invitational on Saturday, Nov. 26 when they face Alaska Anchorage. Opening tip against the Seawolves is set for 3 p.m. CST/12 p.m. AKST.