Texas A&M-Kingsville trips up MSU Men 69-67

WICHITA FALLS, Texas - The Midwestern State University Mustangs dug a hole they couldn't climb out of as they dropped their second straight Lone Star Conference South game as Texas A&M University-Kingsville defeated MSU 69-67 at Stockton Court in Ligon Coliseum on Thursday.

MSU (11-7, 0-3) led the Javelinas (11-5, 1-0) by 17 points, 34-17, with 5:35 to play in the first half. á That's when the Hoggies started a 13-1 run to close the half down by just six at 36-30 on a Remi Yusuf layup and free throw with 35 seconds left in the half.

But the start of the second half was worse for MSU.

After trading hoops in the first four-and-a half minutes in the second half, Yusuf hit a pair of free throws that started a 14-0 run over the next five minutes and stretched into a 19-1 run that gave TAMUK a 14-point lead with 8:19 to play when Ricky Huckaby drained a three-pointer with one second on the shot clock.

Midwestern didn't die. á Two and a half minutes later, trailing by 12, Eric Dawson's short jumper in the lane started an 8-0 run over the next 80 seconds that pulled MSU to within four at 61-57 with 4:27 to play on a layup by Allen Houston.

The Hoggies would regain an eight-point advantage, but the Mustangs had a run at the foul line, hitting seven-of-eight free throws, while allowing the Javelinas one to close the game to 66-65 with 1:13 to play.

The teams exchanged free throws, and missed free throws, until TAMUK's Jake White went 1-of-2 from the line with 15 seconds left to make the score 69-67.

MSU took the ball down floor, but nearly turned it over and never had a strong shot at the end.

Dawson led MSU with his eighth double-double of the season, collecting 12 points with 13 rebounds and six blocked shots. á Rickett also posted 12 points as did Chris Francois off the bench.

Huckaby led the Hoggies with 22 points, while Yusuf added 19 with three steals and Juan Lanauze picked up 10 points. á Bobby Pandy grabbed 10 boards for TAMUK.

A&M-Kingsville shot 51 percent from the floor, hit four-of-eight from behind the three-point arc and shot 70 percent (21-of-30) from the foul line.

MSU hit 44 percent from the field, but made only 3-of-13 from the arc and 16-of-23 from the foul line.

Midwestern State closed out a four-game homestand with the loss and now faces three straight on the road beginning next Wednesday at Canyon against West Texas A&M in the second game of a men's and women's doubleheader. á Tipoff will be about 8 p.m.

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