Lions fall, 50-48, to A&M-Kingsville in first round of LSC Tourney
Flavio Milam grabbed an offensive rebound and dropped in a layup for Texas A&M-Kingsville that turned out to be the difference as the Javelinas knocked off the Texas A&M University-Commerce Lions, 50-48, on Thursday night in the first round of the Lone Star Conference Tournament in Bartlesville, Okla.
“We were able to knock it out on there and get another possession,” said Javelinas head coach Pete Peterson. “I told my coach right there that’s the play of the game.”
DeUndrae Spraggins connected on two free throws with 1:04 remaining to pull within one, but a Royce Gaye free throw extended the lead to the final score and a potential game-winning 3 from the Lions fell short as the buzzer sounded.
“When you get to this level…it comes down to athletes making plays and I guess they made one more play than we did tonight,” said Lions head coach Sam Walker.
Texas A&M-Kingsville scored five straight points to start the second, but A&M-Commerce ran off 13 of the next 15 points to take a 37-35 lead with 11:34 to go.
Spraggins sparked the surge with a trey and Cardell Hunter capped it with three straight free throws.
After two lead changed and a tie, Adan Montalvo scored his only two points of the second half and the Javelinas wouldn’t trail again. Rashad Brown scored five straight points to tie the contest at 46 at the 2:18 mark, but a Kingsville free throw and Milam’s offensive board and layup iced the game.
The Lions had four scoring chances down the stretch, but were unable to capitalize.
“We were doing what we wanted to do at the end of the game,” said Walker. “We had three layup opportunities and an uncontested 3 there at the end, and the team that could put the ball in the hole at the end was going to win the game.”
Momentum swings throughout the contest made for seven lead changes and three ties, and the defensive effort of both teams forced each offense to shoot around 32.0 percent from the field.
“The defense was so good on both ends. It was one of the best defensive outings we’ve had all year,” said Walker.
A&M-Kingsville was just 1-for-13 from the field to start the game, but hit 6-of-8 shots to close the half to take a 28-24 lead into the intermission.
Montalvo drained three 3-pointers and recorded four of the Javelinas’ seven field goals to lead Kingsville with 14 points in the first.
“We tried to force him to make some contested shots,” said Walker. “I don’t think he made a 3-pointer where we didn’t have a guy with a hand in his face.”
The Lions put together runs of 7-0 and 8-0 early in the opening period, but a 28.0 percent effort from the floor wouldn’t allow A&M-Commerce to take advantage of A&M-Kingsville’s slow start.
Spraggins paced the Lions with 11 points, but was just 2-of-8 shooting.
“They did a lot of switching,” said Spraggins. “They kept an eye on me. They just did a good job of keeping aware of where I was at all times.”
Brown was the only other Lion in double figures and recorded 10 points and seven rebounds.
Montalvo’s 16 points and Clyde Johnson’s 10 led A&M-Kingsville to its first round Lone Star Conference win since 2003-04.
Milam chipped in nine points, eight rebounds and four assists for the Javelinas.
The Lions close the season with a 17-11 overall record, while Kingsville improves to 19-9.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am of the people we’ve put on the floor this season,” said Walker. “To see how hard we play on the floor makes me really proud.”
