Gunnison, Colo. – Texas A&M International men's basketball won a close battle with Western Colorado on the road on Friday defeating the Mountaineers 65-62.

The game featured five lead changes and seven ties, but a 3 by Shannon Strickland with just under two minutes remaining gave the Dustdevils (3-1) the lead for good and a pair of free throws form Matthew Okoye sealed the victory.

The Mountaineers (1-2) led by as many as seven in the first half, but TAMIU cut the lead down to 35-32 by the end of the period.

TAMIU scored 22 of its points off turnovers and finished with 12 second-chance points and 32 points in the pain.

Okoye led the Dustdevils with 16 points, Strickland added 14 and Mike Rivera totaled 10.

John Achebe hauled in a team-high six rebounds and Okoye and Jalen Barnes both dished out two assists. Achebe also swiped three steals.

As a team, TAMIU shot 20 of 44 (45.5%) from the field, 4 of 13 (30.8%) from behind the arc and 21 of 34 (61.8%) from the free throw line.

Western Colorado shot 20 of 41 (48.8%) from the field, 4 of 12 (33.3%) from 3 and 18 of 25 (72.0%) from the free throw line.

The Dustdevils are in action next at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18 at Colorado Mesa.