SAN ANTONIO - The Newman men's basketball team will take on Texas A&M International in its opening game of the 2011 Heartland Conference Basketball Championship in a 7:30 p.m. contest inside Bill Greehey Arena on the campus of St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas.
About the Jets...
After losing their starting point guard,
Bobby Wesley, to a knee injury just four minutes into the opening game of the season, the Newman Jets battled to a 15-11 overall record this season, and a 7-5 mark in Heartland Conference play.
Keaton Schultz and
Chip Steven played extensive roles in Newman's success this season. Schultz finished the season as Newman's leading scorer, averaging 13.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. Steven, meanwhile, averaged 11.7 points per game during the 2010-11 season. Both were named to the All-Heartland Conference First Team for their efforts.
The Jets finished the season winning five of their last seven contests, including a 100-69 road win in their season finale at Oklahoma Panhandle State.
Scouting Texas A&M International...
The Dustdevils spent most of their season at the top of the Heartland Conference standings, but two losses in their last three countable Heartland Conference contests, combined with Texas-Permian Basin's triple overtime win at St. Edward's forced the Dustdevils into a tie with UTPB for the regular season title. UTPB won the tie-breaker, and sent TAMIU into the Heartland Conference tournament as the No. 2 seed.
TAMIU brings a 17-9 record into the tournament with notable wins over Maui Invitational participant Chaminade (77-63), Hawaii Pacific (56-45), and Hawaii-Hilo (69-59). They are led by Will Faiivae, a 6-7 senior forward from Ventura, Calif., who averages 12.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Luis Gomez is deadly from beyond the arc, where he shoots .400 (62-155). Gomez averages 11.3 points per game for the Dustdevils this season. If they can't get the job done, Evan Matteson can. Matteson averages 10.3 points per game, and shoots .522 (95-182) from the floor.
Newman vs. texas A&M International This Season...
Newman split with the Dustdevils, coming up on the short end of a 85-59 decision on TAMIU's home court in Laredo, but avenging that loss with an 80-77 come-from-behind win over the Dustdevils in the return game in Wichita.
The All Time Series...
The all-time series with TAMIU is tied, 4-4. Both teams are undefeated on their home court, and have never met at a neutral site.
