FORT SMITH - Nationally-ranked UAFS kept its grip on a share of first place in the Heartland Conference on Thursday night with a convincing 72-52 win against Texas A&M International at the Kinesiology and Convocation Building in Laredo, Texas.
UAFS (22-4, 10-4) won its fourth game in a row and swept the regular-season series against Texas A&M International (10-15, 3-10), which lost 95-53 to UAFS on Jan. 18 at the Stubblefield Center.
The Lions remained tied for first place with the Dallas Baptist Patriots (20-5, 9-4), which beat Oklahoma Christian on Thursday night. Newman (13-11, 9-4) played at Lubbock Christian on Thursday night in a late game.
It was the first game of the Lions’ final regular-season road trip. UAFS, which is ranked No. 19 in the latest NABC Division II Top 25 and No. 20 in the latest D2SIDA Top 25, will play St. Mary’s at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Bill Greehey Arena in San Antonio, Texas. The Lions will finish the regular-season at 7:30 p.m. on Thursdayagainst Oklahoma Christian at the Stubblefield Center.
UAFS shot 62 percent from the field (26 of 42) – it was 4-of-11 shooting from 3-point range – and shot 64 percent from the free-throw line (16 of 25). Senior guard DaVaunta Thomas scored a team-high 17 points, while senior guard Ladarius Coleman had 16 and junior guard Chris Crawford had 12.
The Lions out-rebounded the Dustdevils by 20 rebounds (41-21), collecting nine offensive rebounds that lead to 12 second-chance points. Thomas topped off his double-double with a team-high 11 rebounds.
UAFS held Texas A&M International to just 37-percent shooting from the field (20 of 54) – the Dustdevils were only 4-of-24 shooting from 3-point range – and Texas A&M International shot only 57 percent from the free-throw line (8 of 14). Junior guard Xabier Gomez led the Dustdevils with 21 points, while senior guard Jeremy Wright had 10 points.
Gomez had a team-high six rebounds.
MEN
NO. 19/20 UAFS 72, TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL 52
UAFS 28 44 — 72
TAMIU 23 29 — 52
UAFS (22-4, 10-4): Thomas 17, Coleman 16, Crawford 12, Strong-Moore 9, Wallace 7, Elder 5, Hawley 2, Glapion 2, Dandridge 2
TAMIU (10-15, 3-11): Gomez 21, Wright 10, Robinson 5, Ortiz 4, Garland 4, Spinuzza 3, Milota 3, Leach 2
Lady Lions Sweep Dustdevils, Extend Winning Streak
UAFS won its third game in a row and kept a grip on second-place in the Heartland Conference on Thursday night as the Lady Lions beat the Texas A&M International Dustdevils 67-52 at the Kinesiology and Convocation Building in Laredo, Texas.
It was the opening game of the Lady Lions’ final regular-season road trip. UAFS (17-8, 9-3) will play St. Mary’s at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Bill Greehey Arena in San Antonio, Texas, before finishing the regular season at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday against Oklahoma Christian at the Stubblefield Center.
UAFS swept its regular-season series against Texas A&M International (2-23, 0-11), which lost 76-43 to the Lady Lions on Jan. 18 at the Stubblefield Center.
The Lady Lions shot 41 percent from the field (24 of 58) – they were 6-of-25 shooting from 3-point range – and shot 62 percent from the free-throw line (13 of 21). Junior guard
Daijah Brown scored a team-high 19 points, while sophomore guard Micayla Haynes had 14 points, including three of UAFS’ six 3-pointers.
Sophomore guard Alexsis Brown led a balanced Lady Lions’ rebounding effort with nine rebounds.
UAFS held Texas A&M International to just 31-percent shooting from the field (15 of 49) – the Dustdevils were just 1-of-12 shooting from 3-point range – and Texas A&M International shot 81 percent from the free-throw line (21 of 26).
The Lady Lions forced 21 Dustdevil turnover that led to 28 points. Haynes and Taylor each had three of the Lady Lions’ 13 steals. Taylor also accounted for two of the Lady Lions’ five blocked shots.
Tantashea Giger led the Dustdevils with 21 points, while LaShae Rolle had 11 points. Giger topped off her double-double with 11 rebounds.
WOMEN
UAFS 67, TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL 52
UAFS 18 23 13 13 — 67
TAMIU 14 10 12 16 — 52
UAFS (17-8, 9-3): D. Brown 19, Haynes 14, Taylor 8, Williams 8, Lehne 8, A. Brown 5, Green 5
TAMIU (2-23, 0-11): Giger 21, Rolle 11, Gonzalez 6, Amukamara 5, Oyola 5, Contreras 2, Perez 2
