FORT SMITH, Ark. – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Men’s Basketball earned is second straight Lone Star Conference win Saturday by defeating Texas A&M International, 57-51, at Gayle Kaundart Arena at the Stubblefield Center.
The 51 points are the fewest allowed this season and the Lions held the Dustdevils to a 32.7 shooting percentage, the lowest mark of the season.
TAMIU started the game on a 10-1 run before a three by guard Roland McCoy represented the first basket for the Lions nearly five minutes in. UAFS chipped away, taking a 15-13 lead on a three by guard Payton Brown.
After a back-and-forth battle, the Dustdevils scraped ahead in the final minutes before the half for a 31-26 lead.
The Dustdevils led by seven out of the break, but the Lions answered with an 11-0 run over a nearly six-minute stretch. The lead exchanged hands six times over the next eight minutes, with the Lions taking the final lead at 51-50 with 3:53 left.
UAFS scored its final 10 points from the free throw line, as neither team made a field goal in the final 6:14.
Brown scored a game-high 19 points to lead all scorers, going 6-for-6 at the line. McCoy added 12 points while guard Cameron Bush scored 11.
TAMIU outrebounded the Lions, 49-32, but shot just 14-for-28 at the line.
UAFS protected the ball with only nine turnovers while forcing 18 and scoring 22 points off those turnovers.
The Lions will look to add to their winning streak Thursday at St. Mary’s.
