ODESSA, Texas — Texas A&M International erased a nine-point halftime deficit and outscored UT Permian Basin 42–30 in the second half to secure a 72–69 Lone Star Conference road victory Saturday afternoon at the UTPB Gym Complex.
The Dustdevils (3-6, 2-1 LSC) trailed 39–30 at the break after struggling from beyond the arc in the opening half, but responded with efficient interior scoring and timely defensive stops down the stretch to pull out the win. TAMIU scored 44 of its 72 points in the paint and held UTPB to 34.8 percent shooting in the second half.
Caylen Goff Brown led the Dustdevils with 18 points, including key baskets during a second-half surge that saw TAMIU take its first lead of the game at the 15:51 mark. Jamyier Patton added 17 points and sealed the outcome at the free-throw line in the final seconds, while Gaius Mervin M'Ella recorded a strong all-around performance with 15 points and eight rebounds.
Peyton Gusters chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds, helping TAMIU control the glass with a 35–32 rebounding edge. The Dustdevils also forced nine UTPB turnovers and capitalized on second-chance opportunities, scoring 16 points off offensive rebounds.
UT Permian Basin (3-7, 0-4 LSC) was led by Tash Lunday's game-high 23 points, while Bryceson Burns added 15. The Falcons tied the game at 59-all with just over six minutes remaining, but TAMIU answered with a 10–6 run to regain control in the final moments.
After Burns cut the deficit to one with a fast-break dunk with 20 seconds left, Patton knocked down two free throws with nine seconds remaining to give the Dustdevils breathing room. A final defensive stand secured the three-point victory for TAMIU.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Caylen Goff Brown, Senior, comes to Laredo from Tulsa, OK. He is the son of BJ and Tejajuana and has four siblings. Caylen is pursuing his degree in Psychology.
Caylen Goff Brown is in the PLAYER SPOTLIGHT as he paced the Dustdevils with a team-high 18 points and delivered several key baskets during TAMIU's second-half comeback, helping swing momentum after the break. He added three assists and knocked down crucial free throws late, including part of the closing sequence that helped seal the 72–69 road win.
His scoring in the paint and transition was especially impactful as TAMIU shot 55.6 percent in the second half, turning a nine-point halftime deficit into a Lone Star Conference victory.
