Misses from foul stripe open door for Cameron comeback

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Josh Hawley has scored 20 or more points in three straight games and is averaging 18 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks and 1 steal for Tarleton State. || Courtesy NATE BURAL/Tarleton Athletic Communications

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(December 1, 2017) – Two free throws by Zach Dumas with 21 seconds left pushed Cameron ahead 64-3, and the fifth lead change of the second half stood up over the final 21 seconds in just the second Aggie victory over Tarleton State in their last nine meetings.

Tarleton couldn’t get a good look at the basket and the ball was knocked out of bounds, staying with the Texans for the final four seconds. Corinthian Ramsey checked in for Deshawn Riddick to take the potential game-winner,  a mid-range jumper at the buzzer the missed the mark.

WHAT IT MEANS – Tarleton has dropped three of its first seven games for the first time since 2001-02 when it won 22 of its next 24 and ultimately made the school’s first appearance in the NCAA Division II Basketball Championship.

Cameron avoided being swept at home this weekend by Tarleton and undefeated TAMUC.

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HEADLINES FOR HAWLEY – The biggest bright spot for Tarleton is the development of 6-8 sophomore Josh Hawley, who has a versatile skill set rarely paired with such length. Hawley scored 20 points on 6-12 shooting including 4-6 from 3 and 4-4 from the foul stripe while collecting eight rebounds. He scored 22 in each of the prior two contests, pushing his season average to 18.3 to go with 9 boards, 2 blocks and a steal. He’s scored at least 12 every game, has a 15-rebound performance and has twice blocked four shots.

CAMERON COMEBACK – Cameron outscored Tarleton 7-2 the final three minutes, when the Texans missed all five shots from the floor, officially going 0-2 (attempts don’t count when fouled unless shot is good) and 2-6 from the stripe.

The Aggies trailed 47-39 before making four 3-pointers four minutes to highlight a 16-6 run, for a 55-53 lead, but had to come back again because Hawley answered with a free throw, a 3 and a bucket inside.

Jesse Hill hit the final Tarleton field goal for a 61-57 lead with 3:07 remaining. It as 7-2 Aggies the rest of the way, including a Delano Jones jumper cutting it to 61-59 before Clashon Gaffney missed two Tarleton free throws and Hill split a pair for a 3-point margin. Brice Elie hit a shot while drawing a foul and knocked down the ‘and-1’ to tie the score. Lands made one free throw, but couldn’t get two. Dumas, however , hit both, the second for the win.

It took nine minutes for the Aggies to hit afield goal in the first half as Tarleton led 15-3 out the gate. Cameron answered with just as strong a run to tie it at 19-19. Tarleton was up four late in the half, and in the closing seconds Riddick buried a triple for a 33-26 lead at intermission.

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THE LEADERS – Cameron point guard JV Long stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and a steal without a single turnover in 33 minutes. Brycce Elie and Delano Jones each scored 13 For the Aggies.

Besides Hawley,Jesse Hill stepped up for Tarleton with 12 points in 17 minutes off the bench. He also grabbed five boards and blocked a shot. Riddick  scored 11 and Ramsey added 10, but the Texans had only seven total scorers.

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY – Seven total turnovers by Tarleton is good. Going 2-15 with the exception of Hawley from 3 is bad and everyone except Hawley and Ramsey going just 5 -13 from the foul stripe is unacceptably ugly.

WHATS NEXT? – Tarleton hosts Western New Mexico at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Eastern New Mexico at 4 p.m. Saturday. Both are estimated start times following women’s games at 5:30 Thursday and 2 Saturday.

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