TAMUK Hoops picked up two victories on the road in Wichita Falls, Texas. and Lawton, Okla. Thursday saw the Blue and Gold earn a decisive victory over the Midwestern State Mustangs. Two days later and 52 miles to the north, the Cameron Aggies fell to the Blue and Gold, 77-66.
The lead changed multiple times in the first few minutes of action in Wichita Falls. TAMUK found themselves down 7-5, but took off on a 14-2 run. The Blue and Gold led by as much as 13 during the first half of action, but the Mustangs knocked down 12 of the last 15 points, six of which came in the last half-minute. The Javelinas held the 32-28 advantage at the midpoint.
Second-half action began with five straight points from TAMUK, but the shots tore off on an 11-3 run that almost erased the Javelina advantage. Chauncey Thomas hit four of the next six, extending his team’s lead to seven. MSU would close within four, but the visitors racked up 15 of the next 20 points. Junior Jamell Bradley kicked off the run with a field goal and followed it up with a pair of triples that pushed the Blue and Gold lead to 65-51. MSU hit the next 10 points, but 8 free throws by the Javs iced any comeback hopes.
“I was proud of how our guys responded in the second half. We did not end the first half on a good note, but I thought we responded with a good defensive effort and better execution in the second half,” Coach Johnny Estelle said in an interview with Javelina Athletics.
Thomas, Tre Flowers and Bradley combined for 65 percent of the Blue and Gold scoring column, individually knocking down 19, 16 and 15 points, respectively. Senior Rashon Thomas helped out with eight points of his own.
Saturday night in Lawton, the Javelinas dominated the first half of play against Cameron and spent the last 20 minutes hanging on to their lead. Estelle praised his team’s first half efforts in an interview with Javelina Athletics.
“In the first half we looked like one of the top three teams in the conference. In the second half we looked like a team looking at the clock and trying to hold on,” Estelle said. “The first half was the most complete half of basketball we’ve played all year. We did just enough in the second half and that can be attributed to Coach Brown and Cameron.”
With the score at 8-7, junior Dayante Allen strung together a three-point play and sophomore Creighton Avery added two, putting the Blue and Gold up by six. A few minutes later and score at 18-13, the Javelinas hit 7 straight to extend their lead to 25-13. The Blue and Gold strung together runs of 11-2 and 8-3 to bring their first half lead to 47-25.
The second half was all Cameron, but triples from Thomas, Flowers and Bradley kept the hosts at bay. Nine points on free throws would seal the deal on TAMUK’s victory.
The Javelinas hope to continue their three-game win streak on Thursday, Feb. 6 against the St. Mary’s Rattlers at Steinke Physical Education Center (SPEC). Two days later, LSC action returns to the SPEC for a showdown with St. Edwards.
