Texas A&M-Kingsville upset MSU Men 82-79

Texas A&M-Kingsville upset MSU Men 82-79

WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Texas A&M University-Kingsville's Reggie Love led a Javelina three-point barrage and lead the Hoggies to an 82-79 upset victory over Midwestern State University Saturday night at Gerald Stockton Court at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.

The loss dropped MSU (18-6, 7-3) out of first place in the Lone Star Conference South standings, while keeping Texas A&M-Kingsville (17-8, 4-6) in the race for the LSC Tournament.

TAMUK nailed 14 three-pointers, going 14-of-29 from the arc (48.3 percent), led by Love with seven treys and 21 points. The trifectas offset MSU's 51.9 percent (27-of-52) shooting from the floor.

MSU hit 7-of-18 treys, led by senior Drew Coffman who connected on 5-of-8 threes for his 21 points to lead the Mustangs. He also had five assists.

Senior Eric Dawson chalked up his 17th double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds to go with three blocked shots, while Chad Rickett tallied 17 points with six assists.

The Javelinas got 18 points and five rebounds from Bobby Pandy befor fouling out, with Ricky Huckaby adding 16 points and Remi Yusuf 13 points and five boards.

MSU built a 10-point 27-17 lead with 5:25 to play in the first half when Love buried three consecutive threes leading the Hoggies to a 13-2 run to close the half and TAMUK held a 30-29 advantage at the break.

After the teams battled to a draw through the first three minutes of the second frame, Yusuf buried a three to start a 17-6 run to go up by 11.

Eventually the Hoggies pulled out to a 64-50 advantage with 10:27 to play.

The Mustangs got the game back to an 11-point difference with 8:34 to go, then hit a run.

Chris Davis got a layup, then Drew Coffman buried a three threes and two free throws, as MSU went on an 13-5 run to get within three at 72-69 with 6:19 to go.

After Yusuf hit two more with 5:56 left, another Coffman trey pulled MSU to 74-72.

The Hoggies went back up by six with 2:57 left, when MSU chipped away with a pair of Rickett free throws and a layup by

Dawson
, and MSU trailed 81-79 with a minute left.

MSU had to foul, and TAMUK was gracious, as Huckaby missed two charity tosses and MSU came back.

But the Hoggie defense stifled MSU and forced the Mustangs to take a bad shot with 12 seconds to play. TAMUK's Ralph Davis got the board and was fouled.

He sank one-of-two free throws, still allowing MSU a chance.

Coffman got the ball on the right wing, but bobbled it. He recovered for a shot - only to have it lodge between the rim and the backboard with 1.1 seconds left. MSU had the arrow, but could not get a shot away.

With West Texas A&M's 80-68 victory over Abilene Christian, MSU dropped into a second place tie with

Tarleton
State
.

The Mustangs, who's Senior Night drew a season-best 3,907 fans, now hit the road for the final two games. MSU visits

Eastern New Mexico
on Thursday about 8:30 Central time before closing the regular season at West Texas A&M on Saturday.

+++ MSU +++