- Box Score
STEPHENVILLE – The Tarleton Texans returned to the win column on Saturday against Texas A&M-Kingsville with a 65-46 victory in Stephenville as they remained perfect at home this season (11-0).
The win keeps the Texans atop the Lone Star Conference South Division standings as they improve to 14-4 overall and 5-1 in the division.
The Texans held the Javelinas to just 32 percent from the floor and 46 points, 13 of which were scored between 5:17 and 1:37 remaining in the second half.
“I thought our guys did a great job with defensive intensity,” said Tarleton Associate Head Coach Chris Reisman. “We translated the scouting report well tonight.”
Tarleton had 11 assists in the game and six steals as it controlled the game from the beginning.
“I think we were unselfish with the basketball tonight, and we did a good job of running our offense,” Reisman said. “Coach Pete Peterson does a great job, and I thought we did a good job of recognizing defense they were in and do what we needed to do to execute well.”
The Texans scored the first 13 points to take a 13-0 lead with 15:44 left in the first half. Scoring in the run was Corin Henry, Warren Webb, Chris Harrell and Donta Smith. The first points for the visitors came on a jumper by Mark Stevenson at 15:23, but Wes Dipprey had a layup on the opposite end. Ricky Simon and Devon Hills traded two free throws each before a three by Coleman Furst made it 20-4 with 11:57 remaining in the half.
Stevenson hit a three for the Javelinas before Fabian Wilson had a jumper and Hills a free throw, but Stevenson had another three on the other end to make it 23-10 with 10:03 on the clock. The Javelina freshman then scored on a layup to cut the lead to 11 before Henry had a three for the home team.
TAMUK then scored the next five points to cut the lead to 26-17 with 6:35 on the clock. Wilson had a free throw and Dipprey had a layup before Webb did the same to make it a 14-point game at 3:29. Reid Wallace and Wilson traded layups before Henry found Wilson for a slam dunk. Webb then had a jumper for Tarleton with 67 ticks on the clock. Hills put the final points on the board with a three from the left corner with 20 seconds left to put Tarleton ahead at the break, 40-22.
Smith started off the second half with a layup before Adam Morris hit a three for the visitors. Webb then hit a jumper in the paint at 16:20 to make it 44-25 Tarleton. Dipprey had a layup at 14:55 before Wilson hit a three from the left wing at 13:07 to stretch the lead to 24. Smith and Henry each had buckets for the Texans Nick Mosley had two free throws at 9:17 to make it a 30-point game (55-25).
Antwan Mullins had a jumper before Carrington Tankson did the same on the opposite end. Morris had a three before Wayne Lovings had a jumper. Henry then hit a three from the top of the key prior to Mullins shooting a free throw. Furst had two bonus shots at 5:17 to make it 62-33 in favor of the purple and white.
TAMUK then went on a 6-0 run to cut the lead to 23 at the final media timeout of the contest before Stevenson hit a three to make it 62-42. Venton Wilder then had a free throw before a Wallace three made 62-46 and cut the lead to 16.
Chris Marshall stopped the scoring drought with a free throw before Hills got a fastbreak dunk to give the game its final total at 65-46.
Tarleton was led by Henry and Wilson with 10 points each while Smith and Dipprey led the team with six rebounds apiece.
Tarleton averaged .440 from the floor (22-50), .357 from the arc (5-14) and .727 from the charity stripe (16-22).
The Javelinas were led by Stevenson with 16 points and eight rebounds as they averaged .320 from the field (16-50), .375 from the arc (9-24) and .500 from the line (5-10).
Tarleton outrebounded the opponent 42-25 and outscored them in the paint 28-14. Tarleton also forced 14 turnovers and translated it into 25 points. Tarleton also outscored the Javelinas 14-6 on second-chance points and 10-4 on the fastbreak.
Tarleton will return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 2 at Midwestern State. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. in Wichita Falls.
