Box Score LAREDO, Texas – Shamar Acuay's three-point play with 1:55 remaining powered the Newman men's basketball team to a 59-58 win at Texas A&M International on Thursday (Feb. 7). The go ahead points gave the Jets a 59-56 advantage, and the defense held strong for the 59-58 win. The Jets upped their record to 17-3 and 7-2 in the Heartland Conference.
 
After the Acuay basket, TAMIU pulled to within one point at 59-58 on a layup from Matthew Culliver, Jr. at the 1:40 mark. A Jet turnover gave the Dustdevils the ball, but point guard Bobby Wesley stole the ball to put NU in possession with 52 seconds left. Frankie Drayton tried to put the game away, however, his jump shot was missed with 20 seconds remaining, giving TAMIU a chance at a final shot. Culliver's jumper was no good with 3 seconds remaining, and Newman held on for the 59-58 victory.
 
The Jets erased a 10-point first half deficit to get the win. Trailing 32-22 with 1:23 remaining in the first half, NU scored the final four baskets to go into halftime down 32-26. With the Jets down four at 44-40 with 12:03 remaining, Ryan McCarthy knocked down a 3-pointer to make it 44-43 at the 11:27 mark. After the Dustdevils pushed the margin back to three, 46-43, Shamar Acuay caught fire, scoring eight-straight Jet points. His final basket of the stretch put NU up 51-48 with 5:42 remaining.
 
Four straight TAMIU free throws put the home team up 54-53 with 4:20 left, but Trae Beck responded with a 3-pointer and a two-point Jet advantage, 56-54, at the 3:16 mark. Two more Dustdevil free throws tied the score back up with 2:07 remaining until Acuay's game-winning three-point play.
 
Acuay was an offensive force, scoring 26 points, a game high, on 12-of-17 shooting in only 23 minutes off the bench. Also in double figures was Darrell Traylor with 11 points, and he added six rebounds. After shooting 34.6 percent (9-26) from the field in the first half, the Jets were 50 percent (13-26) in the second half and outscored TAMIU 33-26 in the second half.
 
Jordan Clark led TAMIU with 18 points on a perfect 8-for-8 from the field. He was 2-of-6 from the three-throw line. Although the Dustdevils shot 51.2 percent from the field, TAMIU shot 35 percent (7-20) in the second half, including 0-for-7 from 3.
 
The Jets travel to St. Mary's (Texas) on Saturday (Feb. 9) for a 4 p.m. tip-off against the Rattlers in San Antonio, Texas.