Stallions Stumble in a One-Point Heartbreaker Against TAMUSA

NAU Men's Basketball Falls 71-70, Looks Ahead to Key RRAC Matchups

Sports Recap Written by Rev. Justin Jackson

The North American University Stallions men's basketball team endured a gut-wrenching one-point loss to Texas A&M-San Antonio in a tightly contested matchup on December 7, 2024, at Stafford. Despite a valiant effort, the Stallions couldn't hold off a second-half surge by the visiting Jaguars, falling 71-70 in a game that went down to the wire.

First Half: Taking Early Control

NAU started strong, controlling the tempo in the first half and building a 34-30 halftime lead. Caleb Malik set the tone with 11 points and seven rebounds, while point guard Tevin Gowens facilitated the offense with 10 assists. The Stallions' defense also shined early, forcing TAMUSA into 15 turnovers and holding them to 41.4% shooting from the field.

Joseph Cormier and Erric Wynn contributed key plays to keep the momentum in NAU's favor, while Damione Thomas added six rebounds to the team's 36 overall, narrowly edging TAMUSA's 34 boards.

Second Half: TAMUSA Rallies

The second half saw TAMUSA step up their game, with guard Antwone Gonzales leading the charge. He finished as the game's top scorer with 17 points, including three three-pointers. TAMUSA outscored NAU 41-36 in the second half, converting clutch free throws and making timely plays down the stretch.

NAU countered with strong performances from reserves Jamarric Hammond and Oakley Lewis. Hammond provided a spark off the bench, scoring 10 points on perfect 3-for-3 shooting from beyond the arc, while Lewis added 11 points and five rebounds.

Despite their efforts, the Stallions missed some opportunities at the free-throw line, converting just 50% of their attempts compared to TAMUSA's 65.2%. A final shot at the buzzer came up short, sealing a heartbreaking loss for NAU.

Statistical Leaders

• NAU:

  • Caleb Malik: 11 points, 7 rebounds
  • Jamarric Hammond: 10 points, 3-for-3 from three-point range
  • Oakley Lewis: 11 points, 5 rebounds
  • Tevin Gowens: 6 points, 10 assists

• TAMUSA:

  • Antwone Gonzales: 17 points, 3-for-7 from three-point range
  • Joshua Larry: 12 points, 3 rebounds
  • Journee Phillips: 12 points, 4-for-5 free throws

Coach's Take

"We showed a lot of grit tonight," said the Stallions' Head Coach. "Our bench stepped up in big moments, and we did a great job sharing the ball with 22 assists. But we missed some opportunities at the free-throw line and couldn't execute as well as we needed to down the stretch. We'll learn from this and come back stronger."

Up Next for the Stallions

The Stallions (4-7, 1-5) now shift their focus to a critical two-game road trip in Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) play:

• Thursday, December 12, 2024 – NAU takes on Louisiana State University Shreveport at 7:30 PM in Shreveport, LA. This matchup against a tough LSUS team will test the Stallions' resilience as they seek to bounce back.

• Saturday, December 14, 2024 – The Stallions wrap up their Louisiana swing with a game against Louisiana State University Alexandria at 3:00 PM in Alexandria, LA. Known for their defensive tenacity, the Generals will provide another challenging contest for NAU.

Fans can follow both games via Live Stats provided by LSUS and LSUA. These matchups offer an opportunity for NAU to regain momentum and climb the RRAC standings.

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