Box Score LAREDO, Texas – The Newman men's basketball team dropped a close 93-89 contest at Heartland Conference-leading Texas A&M International on Saturday (Feb. 1). The Jets dropped to 7-13 and 4-8 in the Heartland Conference. The Dustdevils moved to 17-4 and 10-1 in the Heartland Conference.
 
With the score tied at 83-83 with 4:21 remaining, the host Dustdevils took a two-point lead with a layup at the 4 minute mark. Trae Beck hit a 3-pointer with 3:46 remaining, giving NU an 86-85 lead.
 
 TAMIU regained the lead, scoring the next four points to go up 89-86 with 2:35 left after a layup. A Jack Pyle free throw with 2:06 remaining pulled NU to with two at 89-87.
 
After two Dustdevil free throws to increase the lead to 91-87, Marquis Cuyler put in a layup at the 1:41 mark to keep NU in it at 91-89. Perryonte Smith gave NU possession with a steal, and Cuyler tried to put the Jets up with a 3-pointer, but his shot didn't go and TAMIU got the rebound.
 
The Dustdevils missed a 3-pointer with 57 seconds remaining, and Smith gathered the rebound. The Jets called timeout with 45 seconds on the clock.
 
Elhad Emerllahu had a chance to tie the score, but his layup with 35 seconds left didn't fall. The Jets were forced to foul, and TAMIU made 1-of-2 free throws with 19 seconds remaining for a 92-89 score.
 
With another chance for the Jets to tie the score, Beck missed a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left. The Dustdevils pushed the lead to four points, 93-89, with a free throw with 4 seconds remaining.
 
Emerllahu scored a career-high 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting from the field. The senior forward from San Antonio, Texas poured in 22 points in the first half. Cuyler added 21 points and seven rebounds. Jeremy Espinoza nearly totaled a double-double, missing by one rebound. He finished with 12 points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting from the field and 3-for-3 from the free throw line. He grabbed nine rebounds.
 
TAMIU's Jordan Clark tallied a game-high 27 points, including 11 points from the free throw line. He added seven rebounds. Matthew Culliver Jr. totaled a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds.
 
In the high scoring game, both teams were efficient from the field. The Dustdevils shot 55.9 percent, and the Jets shot 52.2 percent. TAMIU hit 47.1 percent from 3-point range.
 
The Jets return home for two straight games. St. Edward's comes to Fugate Gymnasium on Thursday (Feb. 6) for a 7:30 p.m. game.