TAMIU Sports Notes - Dec. 9, 2004

The Week Ahead

Texas A&M International University will play its next five games at the TAMIU Kinesiology and Convocation Building, beginning with conference contests against Huston-Tillotson on Saturday and Houston Baptist on Monday.

Houston Baptist stands at 4-2 overall entering Tuesday's conference opener against Huston-Tillotson. HBU was ranked fifth in the NAIA Top-25 poll before dropping consecutive games to fourth ranked Union (Tenn.) and number one ranked Southern Nazarene. The Huskies, who advanced to the Final Four of the NAIA National Tournament last season, have won five straight Red River Athletic Conference titles. TAMIU is 1-2 all-time against HTC and 0-3 against HBU.

Noteworthy

TAMIU's 61-point first half in Monday's win over Bacone College was the third-best offensive half in the two-year history of the program. The Dustdevils recorded two 60-point halves last season, both times in wins over UT-Permian Basin. TAMIU scored 62 second half points in a 105-77 home win over UTPB and 66 second half points in a 102-88 road win over the Lady Falcons ... Junior Marili Santos came close to a double-double against Bacone, finishing with season-high totals in points (10) and rebounds (9).

Santos registered one double-double last season ... Sophomore Trisha Hill achieved the second-best offensive outing of her career in the win over Bacone, finishing with eight points. Hill scored a career-high nine points in a win over Southwestern Assemblies at the end of last season ... TAMIU went 8-3 in home conference games last season. The Dustdevils won eight straight conference home games after dropping the opening two contests to Houston Baptist and Texas Wesleyan. The home winning streak was broken with an 84-80 setback to Huston-Tillotson in the regular season finale for both teams.

The Week Ahead

After playing six of its first seven games on the road Texas A&M International University will open a four-game Red River Athletic Conference homestand against Huston-Tillotson on Saturday before hosting conference power Houston Baptist on Monday. TAMIU went 5-6 on its home court against conference opponents last season.

Huston-Tillotson's record fell to 0-7 overall (0-1 RRAC) after Monday night's 85-69 loss to St. Edward's. Houston Baptist (3-4) opens conference play at home on Tuesday night against Paul Quinn College. HBU has won six straight RRAC regular season titles with a string of seven straight trips to the NAIA National Tournament. TAMIU is 1-1 all-time against HTC and 0-2 against HBU.

Noteworthy

TAMIU registered a school-record 66 rebounds in Monday's 77-72 overtime win over Bacone. The previous record of 61 rebounds was established against Langston last season. Seven players registered five or more boards against Bacone, with senior Keith Simpson leading the way with a season-high 11 rebounds ... Several reserves turned in solid performances against Bacone.

Michael Starks finished with a season-high five rebounds, Bo Aluka with a season-high eight rebounds and three steals and Reggie Lopez with a season-high six points and two rebounds ... Keith Simpson finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds against Bacone, marking his first double-double of the season and third for his career ... Senior Kyle Edwards recorded a TAMIU single-game record five blocks against Bacone. Edwards had recorded four blocks in a game earlier this season while Keith Simpson and Antoine Smith recorded four blocks in a game last season ... TAMIU has a four-game home conference winning streak entering the 2004-05 RRAC home opener against Huston-Tillotson on Saturday. The Dustdevils finished last season with consecutive conference wins over Jarvis Christian, Wiley College, Southwestern Assemblies and Huston-Tillotson on the home court.