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KINGSVILLE – Tarleton's Effran Bryant missed tying his career high in scoring, but his 22-point effort helped the Texan men's basketball team stay undefeated in the Lone Star Conference South Division with a 74-50 victory at Texas A&M-Kingsville Saturday. 

Tarleton improved to 17-3 overall with the win in Kingsville thanks to outscoring the Javelinas 40-26 in the second half.  Bryant, who had 17 at the half, scored only fivepoints in the half, but he hit six threes and helped the Texans defeat a team who was 9-1 before Saturday in the Steinke Center.

“I've never been in this gym and had a 28-point lead in my life,” said head coach Lonn Reisman.  “Our team did a great job tonight and played very well.  I couldn't be more proud of them and their efforts tonight.”

The Texans averaged .533 from the floor on Saturday, including a .444-mark from the three-point arc.

“I thought the second half we really dominated the backboards really well,” Reisman said.  “We really communicated well tonight and played very good defense.  This team has bought in to what we are doing defensively, and tonight, they seemed to really run the offense well, too.  They were very unselfish and made the extra pass tonight.  Every win for this team is a plus because of their youth.  It is hard to go on the road in the Lone Star Conference and shoot 50 percent from the field, but we are getting comfortable on the court and with each other.”

Antwan Mullins scored first before Corin Henry and Devon Hills had buckets for Tarleton to put the Texans ahead 4-2 with 17:33 on the clock.  The two teams traded points before two free throws by Donta Smith with 12:40 remaining in the half put the visitors on top 9-8.  Hills and Bryant then hit back-to-back threes to give the Texans a 15-8 advantage with 11:16 on the clock.

Mullins then scored two buckets on each side of another Bryant three before Jeremiah Wilson had two free throws for  Tarleton to make it 20-12.  The Javelinas then scored four straight before a Bryant three and a Hills jumper gave Tarleton a 23-16 lead at the 4:36-mark.

Naquawn Lee nailed a three for the home team followed by another TAMUK bucket to cut the lead to two, 23-21.  However, the Texans' Bryant then hit a jumper followed by back-to-back threes at 2:10 and 1:24 to put Tarleton ahead by 10.  Henry then hit a free throw with 35.4 seconds remaining and two more with 5.7 seconds left.  A last-second three to beat the buzzer by TAMUK's Royce Gaye put Tarleton ahead 34-24 at the break.

In the first three minutes of the second half, the Javelinas outscored the Texans 6-2 before Hills got a backdoor slam to put Tarleton ahead by eight, 38-30 with just over 17 minutes left in the contest.  Darrion Washington added to the lead with a jumper. After a free throw by TAMUK, Henry and Hills each had old-fashioned three-point plays to put Tarleton ahead 46-31 with 12:29 remaining.

Smith had a layup for Tarleton before Ford ended a seven-minute field goal drought by the Javelinas from 17:37 to 10:56.  The bucket cut the lead to 14 before Hills had a layup and Smith two free throws.  Hills was then fouled with 9:21 on the clock and then a technical foul was called against TAMUK.  Hills hit two of the four bonus shots.   Following another Ford three, Bryant had two free throws for the Texans to give Tarleton a 56-37 advantage with 8:26 remaining in the period.

Adan Montalvo had a three at 7:40 for the home team before Smith had a dunk following a nice assist from Henry.  Washington then had a layup before a Henry three put Tarleton up by 23.  Montalvo had free throws before two of the same from Hills for the Texans.  Bryant then had a three followed by a Hills layup to make it 70-42 with 2:30 on the clock.  Phillip Belford had a three before Mullins did the same for the home team.  Smith got a dunk for Tarleton and Ford a jumper for the Javelinas prior to a Chris Harrell layup gave the game its final total with the Texans winning, 74-50.

Also averaging in double figures with Bryant was Hills (19), Henry (15) and Smith (10).  Smith led the squad with nine rebounds.

Tarleton averaged .533 from the floor (24-45), .444 from the arc (8-18) and .643 from the charity stripe (18-28).

TAMUK was led by Ford with 12 and Mullins with 11.  Gaye led the squad with six rebounds.

The Javelinas averaged .370 from the field (20-54), .304 from the arc (7-23) and .500 from the line (3-6).

Tarleton scored 19 points off of 15 TAMUK turnovers and turned the ball over 13 times leading to 13 Javelina points. 

The Texans will return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 3 at home against No. 11 Midwestern State for the battle of the top of the South Division.  The Mustangs are No. 3 in the South Central Region and the Texans are No. 7. 

Wednesday is Purple Out Night in Wisdom Gym and also Dublin Night where all fans from Dublin will get in free with proof of residence.  Tip-off in Wisdom Gym is set for 8 p.m.