LAREDO, Texas – Texas A&M International men's basketball looked for its second top 25 victory of the season, but a quiet second half kept that from being a possibility as #22 West Texas A&M defeated the Dustdevils 71-62.
 
The first half was a back and forth early and it was 20-19 in favor of the Buffs (6-2, 4-0 LSC) with 9:08 remaining.
 
TAMIU (6-4, 1-3 LSC) then utilized an 8-0 run to gain a seven-point lead, but despite WT coming back, the teams traded baskets at the end of the half and the Dustdevils led 37-35 at the break.
 
Out of halftime, TAMIU would still hold the lead, including a five-point, 51-46 lead with 13:22 remaining. However, over that remaining 13:22, the Dustdevils would make just three shots from the field, allowing the Buffs to take charge and seal the victory.
 
For the game, TAMIU still finished with a quality shooting day, going 20-for-43 (46.5%), but were only 1-for-6 from three. The free-throw line, which has been a concern, was tremendous at 21-for-23 (91.3%).
 
On the other side, the Chaps finished 21-for-52 (40.4%) from the floor, and 6-for-19 (31.6%) from three, while finishing 23-for-29 from the charity stripe.
 
The Dustdevils were led offensively by junior Tyrese Davis who scored 15 points with a team best six rebounds.
 
Sophomore Lonzo Rand finished with 11 points, while graduate student Greg Bowie II and junior Juwan White both chipped in nine.
 
TAMIU will conclude its three game home stretch on Thursday, Dec. 15 when they welcome Southwestern Adventist for a 3 p.m. tip inside the KCB.