San Antonio – Curtis Mitchell scored a team-high 18 points and St. Mary’s University outplayed Texas A&M University-Kingsville in nearly every phase of the game, but 23 Rattler turnovers and seven Javelina 3-pointers sent the Rattlers to a 66-62 loss in men’s basketball action Tuesday night at Bill Greehey Arena.

Mitchell (Sr., Milwaukee) hit on 5-of-10 shots from the field and 7-of-8 free throws to score in double figures for the fourth straight game. He also added 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. The only other Rattler to score in double figures in the game was Darren Lee (Sr., Stockton, Calif.), who had 10 points off the bench.

The Rattlers took control of the game early in the second half, after trailing by a 34-28 count at the end of the first period. The strong play finally paid off with 7:00 remaining, when Jeff Steinbaugh (Sr., Plano, Texas) hit two free throws to tie the score at 48-48. After the Javelinas retook the lead, Jeremy Fonteneaux (So., DeSoto) hit back-to-back baskets to give the Rattlers their first lead since the early stages of the game. The tide turned with 3:08 left to play. Adan Montalvo hit a shot jumper to tie the score at 54-54. Naquawn Lee followed with a basket of his own and Montalvo finished the 6-0 run with a long basket to give TAMUK a 58-54 lead with 2:19 left to play. Lee cut the deficit to just two points at 64-62 with a pair of free throws with eight seconds left, but Royce Gaye sealed the win with two free throws of his own right after.

As a team, the Rattlers hit 44.2 percent (19-43) of their shots from the field and 88.5 percent (23-26) from the free throw line. TAMUK made 36.7 percent (22-60) of their shots from the field, but 50.0 percent (7-14) from the three-point line. The Rattlers outrebounded the Javelinas 37-28, but committed 23 turnovers to the Javelinas’ 11.

With the loss, St. Mary’s fell to 2-2, while TAMUK improved to 3-0. The Rattlers will return to action on Friday when they host Texas A&M University-Commerce at 7:30 p.m. at Bill Greehey Arena.

11/24/09 7:55 pm at Bill Greehey Arena, San Antonio, TX
At Bill Greehey Arena, San Antonio, TX
Texas A&M-Kingsville 66, St. Mary’s (Texas) 62

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