TAMUK men cap November with win-streak
In the world of sports, gaining momentum is oftentimes the most difficult step in having a successful season. The Javelina men’s basketball team did just that throughout the month of November, going 6-2 and capping the first month of basketball with a four-game win streak.
Back-to-back nail-biters were served up during the first week of 2019. The Javelinas kept the Kingsville crowd on the edge of their seat on Friday, Nov. 8 with a 70-69 victory over South Dakota School of Mines. Opening week tensions would peak again the following night when the Blue and Gold’s battle with Chadron State went down to the wire. Strong defensive play during the last 90 seconds wrapped up TAMUK’s 67-66 win.
The Javelinas hit the road during week two for a double-header 1520 miles from home in Nampa, Idaho. The trip out west offered up the men’s only losses of the month. Nov. 15’s contest against the Central Washington Wildcats saw the Javelinas surrender a 12-point lead in route to an 83-72 loss. The following evening, Northwest Nazarene got the best of the visitors 82-68.
Five days later, Javelina hoops catalyzed a four-game win streak and picked up their first Lone Star Conference (LSC) dubs in the Sooner State. The 58-57 victory over the Oklahoma Christian Eagles was secured by a Daniel Severo free-throw. Game two of week three, was played in Fort Smith, Arkansas where the Blue and Gold picked up their fourth win of the season against University of Arkansas-Fort Smith. Rashon Thomas picked up 15 points in the last seven minutes, leading his team to a 66-61 victory.
The Thanksgiving holiday was followed by a pair of victories in Steinke Physical Education Center. Strong offensive play from Thomas and teammate Tre Flowers lifted the Javs to a 70-58 win over Colorado State-Pueblo.
The next night, Flowers put on a show from behind the arc. The junior finished the game with 31 points and his nine three-pointers tied a program record that was set by his head coach, Johnny Estelle. Flower’s efforts were enough to help his team to an 82-68 victory. The win over the Texas A&M-Texarkana Eagles was the fourth-straight for TAMUK.
In the first eight games of 2019, the Javelinas outscored opponents 553-544 and averaged 69.1 points per game (ppg). They shot .405 from the field and .321 beyond the arc.
Flowers and Rashon Thomas have double-digit ppg averages with 12.9 and 11.7, respectively. Dayante McClellan led the team on the boards, pulling down 42 rebounds. McClellan’s efforts under the basket were followed closely by teammates Will Chayer and John Mouton, who pulled down 39 and 36, respectively.
Blue and Gold basketball returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 14 in Laredo, TX with a LSC contest against the Dust Devils of Texas A&M International University.