LAREDO, Texas — Texas A&M International used a dominant performance in the paint and a balanced scoring effort to roll past Southwestern Adventist, 81–56, on Thursday afternoon at TAMIU.
The Dustdevils (4–7) shot 53.3 percent from the field and outscored the Knights 58–20 in the paint, building separation early and never looking back. TAMIU led 38–24 at halftime before extending the margin to as many as 32 points in the second half.
Gaius Mervin M'Ella had an outstanding game with 18 points on a perfect 9-of-9 shooting in just under 17 minutes of action. Jamyier Patton followed with 19 points, four assists and three steals, providing a steady presence on both ends of the floor. Luke Oxford added 11 points and three assists, while Peyton Gusters chipped in five points and three rebounds.
TAMIU controlled the glass, outrebounding Southwestern Adventist 38–17, including 14 offensive rebounds that turned into 20 second-chance points. The Dustdevils also capitalized on turnovers, scoring 11 fast-break points and forcing 12 Knight miscues.
Southwestern Adventist (0–3) was led by Ruben Doria, who finished with 12 points, and Andre Guajardo Mancilla, who added 14 points and nine rebounds. Despite shooting 38.5 percent from three-point range, the Knights struggled to keep pace inside and were limited to 42.0 percent shooting overall.
The Dustdevils opened the game on a strong run and held the lead for more than 35 minutes, steadily building momentum behind interior scoring and defensive pressure. TAMIU outscored SWA 43–32 in the second half to secure the 25-point victory.
Texas A&M International will look to carry the momentum forward as it continues nonconference play later this week.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Gaius Mervin M'Ella, Senior, comes to Laredo from Oyem, Gabon. He is the son of Ella and has three siblings. Gaius is pursuing his degree in Business Administration.
M'Ella was the most impactful player on the floor, finishing with 18 points on a perfect 9-for-9 shooting performance in just 16:49 of action. He anchored the Dustdevils in the paint, consistently converting high-percentage looks and helping TAMIU build an early lead it never relinquished.
In addition to his scoring efficiency, M'Ella pulled down six rebounds and was a key presence defensively as TAMIU outscored Southwestern Adventist 58–20 in the paint. His flawless shooting night and interior dominance set the tone for the Dustdevils' 81–56 home victory.
