KINGSVILLE, Texas — The St. Mary's University Men's Basketball dropped a 67-65 decision at Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday afternoon in a physical game that saw 40 fouls, 10 lead changes and nine ties.
After scoring 40 or more points in the paint in each of the last two games, the Rattlers (15-6, 8-5) were held to a season-low 16 points down low, while the Javelinas (11-11, 8-6) doubled up StMU with 32.
Twenty-one of the team's points came at the free throw line, as the Rattlers were 21-for-27 (77.8 percent) while the Hogs were 15-for-22 (68.2 percent). Both teams grabbed 30 rebounds, shot 44 percent from the field, recorded six steals and blocked two shots in the evenly matched game where neither team led by more than seven.
Senior guard
Damani Claxton (Bronx, N.Y.) led the game with 17 points, and he had a team-high four assists, while
Eddie McPhee (Denver, Colo.) scored 11, and junior
Justin Britt (Goose Creek, S.C.) led the team with six rebounds.
Nate Garcia paced TAMUK with 13 points, while Jadon Sautter came off the bench to add 12. David Oriaku had a game-high nine rebounds, and Bryce Smith totaled a game-high eight assists.
The Rattlers have a busy week on tap as they play at St. Edward's in the Battle of the Saints on Monday at 7:30 before hosting UT Permian Basin on Thursday and celebrating Senior Day on Saturday against Angelo State. The Hilltoppers defeated TAMIU by 20 on Saturday afternoon, 89-69.
