NASSAU, Bahamas – Tarleton State Men's Basketball didn't start the 2024 Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship as preferred, dropping to Iona, 62-51 on Friday afternoon at the Baha Mar Convention, Arts & Entertainment Center.
The Texans (1-6) will look to bounce back on Saturday afternoon against Hofstra at 3:30 pm CT. Iona (2-5) will play its next game tomorrow against Indiana State at 1 p.m. CT.
Bubu Benjamin posted a career-best 22 points. The Alberta, Canada native shot three-for-six from deep and a perfect five-for-five from the charity stripe. The sophomore led the squad with seven boards and a block.
Izzy Miles was the other Texan to score in double figures with 10.
Jordan Mizell dished a team-best three assists.
The Texans started off hot knocking down back-to-back triples. Benjamin started off the scoring followed by
Nick Krass sinking a wide-open look. The duo combined for the Texans first 10 points giving the Purple and White a 10-6 advantage just under six minutes into the first half.
Iona responded with a pair of back-to-back triples of its own to retake the lead. Tied at 14, Iona used a 5-0 run to maintain a five-point lead. The Gaels kept the low-scoring affair in their favor for the reminder of the half ultimately taking a 28-20 lead into the break.
Tarleton's 20-point first half was its second lowest scoring of the season. However, the Texans held the Gaels to 28, the fewest points scored against the Purple and White in the first 20 minutes.
The Texans were unable to gouge into their deficit in the second half. Tarleton cut the Gaels lead to six four minutes into the second session but was unable to cut it any further.
Iona widened their lead with a 12-0 run spanning six minutes. The lead ballooned to 18, 44-26, with 10:51 to go. Benjamin responded with five-straight points of his own. He drove to the layup earning an and-one followed by a mid-range jumper. With eight minutes to go, the Texans ran a 6-0 spurt in 1:11 to cut the Gaels advantage to 12, 49-37.
Four made free throws by Miles and Benjamin shrunk the Iona advantage to nine with two minutes left. Iona extinguished the threat with a pair of triples to thwart the Texan comeback chances.
Jordan Mizell hit a triple as time expired to cut the final score to 62-51.
Tarleton forced 15 Iona turnovers while committing 18, their lowest of the season. The Texans shot 17-for-43 from the floor, 39.5 percent and five-for-12 from three-point land (41.7 percent). The Gaels won the battle of the boards, 32-28.
Tarleton State will be back in action on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 CT against Hofstra. The Pride will play their first game of the day on Friday night against Rice at 6 p.m. CT. Head coach Speedy Claxton played seven seasons in the NBA with five different teams. He won the NBA Finals with the Spurs in 2003 and was second in the 6th Man of the Year voting after the 2005-06 season. Saturday's game will be available on Flo College with Kevin Brown and Jonny Wincott. Kyle Crews will be on the radio call on 100.7 KXTR.
