LAREDO, Texas - An 11-4 run with 5:56 remaining allowed Texas A&M International to pull away from Lubbock Christian in a 75-64 victory for the Dust Devils on Thursday, Dec. 8.

Early in the contest, it was Russell Harrison providing all of the offense for the Chaps (4-3, 2-1 LSC), scoring the first seven points for LCU thanks to a three-pointer and a pair of layups and Lubbock Christian took a 7-6 lead with 14:28 left in the first half. A pair of shots by Mike Rivera and a shot from beyond the arc by Tiras Morton put Texas A&M International (6-3, 1-2 LSC) ahead 15-10, but a layup by Rowan Mackenzie cut the lead down to 15-12 with 11:46 remaining in the opening stanza.

The Devils went ahead 20-16 late in the first half thanks to a Jermaine Drewey three, but once again LCU answered with a deep three of their own by Najeeb Muhammad, before an assist by Muhammad to Fletcher MacDonald gave Lubbock Christian a 21-20 lead with 6:26 left. Another three from Drewey put the Dust Devils up 25-24 at the final media timeout of the first half with 3:43 remaining. 

Greg Bowie II and Aaron Gonzales traded a pair of shots from downtown, with Gonzales' shot from the corner tying the game at 29 apiece. Bowie II answered with another three-pointer on the other end, and for the first time this season, the Chaps could not connect on one final shot before the end of the opening frame, and Texas A&M International took a 32-29 lead into the break.

The Devils came out scorching in the second half, thanks to a three by John Achebe and a layup by Drewey swelled the Texas A&M International lead to 37-29. Mackenzie answered the small run with one of his own, scoring six straight points, and a Gonzales layup gave the Chaps a 38-37 lead with 14:38 left in the contest. 

Both teams would go back-and-forth, with a Morton three-pointer being answered by Muhammad with an and-1 layup on the other end, connecting with a free throw to keep LCU ahead 43-42 with 11:45 remaining. The two foes traded free throws for a bit, before an Olaverr Camacho layup put the Dust Devils on top 53-50 with 7:04 left in the game.

Texas A&M started to pull away late, going on an 11-4 run, thanks to layups by Bowie II and Drewey, before an exclamation point from downtown by Juwan White gave the Dust Devils a 64-54 advantage with 3:47 remaining. Jumpers by Mackenzie and Muhammad cut the lead down to eight points late, but a dunk by John Achebe iced the contest, and Texas A&M International pulled away for the 75-64 win. 

The Dust Devils shot 56.8 percent from the floor for the game, including 65 percent in the second half. That overall field goal percentage mark is the highest an LCU opponent has shot in a game since Dallas Baptist shot a whopping 63.5 percent from the field in the Patriots' 93-67 win over the Chaps on Jan. 4, 2016. Texas A&M International also shot 44.4 percent from three, shooting a scorching 80 percent from deep in the second half. 

Despite the loss, a pair of LCU newcomers set career-highs in points. MacDonald scored 10 points and flirted with a double-double, pulling down a career-best eight rebounds. MacDonald shot 80 percent (4-for-5) from the field. Muhammad scored a season-high 14 points and a season-best five assists. The JUCO transfer went 4-for-6 from the field and 5-for-5 from the free throw line.

Mackenzie continued his strong season, scoring 18 points and hauling in eight rebounds. The junior also dished out three assists and had two steals. Harrison also finished the night in double figures for the second straight game, scoring 15 points. 

Morton led the Dust Devils with 16 points and shot a perfect 5-for-5 from the field and 2-for-2 from three. 

The Chaps have now lost five straight games in Laredo to the Dust Devils, their last win coming on Feb. 28, 2015.

LCU stays on the road this weekend, heading to Kingsville to face the Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas. Tip-off is set for 3 PM.