LAREDO, Texas.  Western Colorado came close to tying the game in the first half. However, Texas A&M International came out strong in the second half and pulled away with a 74-60 lead.
 
JUST THE FACTS
Final Score: Texas A&M Int'l def. Western Colorado 74-60.
Records: Western Colorado 0-1, Texas A&M International 3-0.
Location: TAMIU Kinesiology and Convocation Building; Laredo, Texas
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Dust Devils got off to a hot start taking a 14-4 lead five minutes into the game. That lead didn't last long, as Jonathan McCloud knocked down back-to-back three-pointers - sparking a 12-2 run that resulted in the game being tied at 16-points apiece. After briefly exchanging points, Texas A&M Int'l offense got going again.
• Down 25-18 with 5:41 left before halftime, Kevin Jimenez sunk two free throws and McCloud, Jon., knocked down a three-pointer cutting the lead to three-points.  Minutes later, the Dust Devils got the lead back up to seven-points. But, once again two free throws by Avery Rembao and a McCloud, Jon., jumper put the lead back at three-points. Before the half ended, Texas A&M Int'l knocked down three free throws to hold a six-point lead at halftime.
• In the beginning of the second half, the Mountaineers scored on their first two possessions – Dusts Devils scored on their first possession - off a Rembao layup and Robel Desta jumper. Yet, that was the closest – being within four-points - Western got to tying the game.
• The Mountaineers continued to fight, managing to cut the lead to five points at the 13:23 mark of the game, after buckets from Grant Wilkinson (layup) and McCloud, Jon., (three-pointer).
• From there, Texas A&M Int'l managed to only let Western get within eight-points of tying the game for the remainder of the game. Despite things not going the Mountaineers way in the second half they shot 50 percent from the field and knocked down 7-of-9 free throws.

COURT NOTES

• McCloud, Jon., came of the bench and did his thing, finishing the game with 19-points. He was 6-of-11 from the field and knocked down 5-of-8 from beyond the arc. Gino Corridori was the next highest scorer for the Mountaineers pitching in with 13-points (6-of-9).
• On the defensive end Jaelan McCloud and Syris Williams each stole the ball twice during the course of the game.
• As a whole, Western shot 42.6 percent (20-of-47) from the field, 33.3 percent(6-of-18) from three and 77.8 percent (14-of-18) from the free throw line.
• For the Dust Devils, they had four players finish in double figures and as a team stole the ball 14 times. As a whole they shot 46.6 percent (27-of-48) from the field, 30 percent (3-of-10) from three, and 73.9 percent (17-of-23) from the free throw line.

UP NEXT
The Mountaineers will remain in Texas for their next game tomorrow (Nov. 19) against Texas A&M University – Kingsville at 5 PM MT.