LOS ANGELES — Tarleton State rounded out the 2023 calendar year and its non-conference slate with a 79-66 comeback win on Friday night against Loyola Marymount at the Gersten Pavilion.
The Texans improve to 9-4 overall and 2-0 in the WAC, the most wins before the new year as a Division I institution and the most since the 2018-19 season. The Lions round out 2023 at .500, 7-7 overall.
For the first time this season, a Texan duo each posted a 20-piece. KiAndre Gaddy notched his fifth double-double of the season with 24 points and 12 boards. Gaddy now owns the program record for most double-doubles in a single season in the Division I era for the Texans.
Jakorie Smith tallied 21 points, powered by a game-high three triples. He added five assists. Four Texans scored in double-figures. Devon Barnes contributed 13 points and Lue Williams notched 11.
Emmanuel Innocenti had one of the most well-rounded nights by a Texan this season, in one of his best games all year. He tallied a Tarleton season-best eight assists along with six points and six boards.
LMU was quick out of the gate opening on an 11-2 run in the first three minutes of the game. The next 17 minutes, the Texans took over. Trailing 21-12, Tarleton executed an 11-2 run to tie the game at 23. Seven straight Texan points by Barnes brought the Purple and White within two before an Innocenti layup tied the game at 23.
The Texans extended their run to 19-4 to take their largest lead of the half, seven, 32-25. During the run, the Texan defense forced the Lions to miss 10 shots while shooting at a 16.7 rate. The Texans were hot during their run, shooting 66.7 percent from the floor and was perfect at the charity stripe.
After a Lions’ timeout, LMU scrapped back to close the Texan lead to just three. At the break, the Texans led, 34-31. The Texans shot a season-best 51.7 percent in the first half. Gaddy led the squad with 10 points. The Texan defense held the Lions to shoot just 13-for-37 in the half, 35.1 percent.
The Texans held the lead for the entire second half. Williams and Gaddy both converted a three-point play which drew the bench off their feet on both occasions.
With the Texans leading, 58-50, Smith took control scoring seven-straight Texan points ending with the Purple and White leading, 65-56. The Lions showed they still had fight in them closing the Tarleton advantage. LMU converted an and-one and a mini 5-0 run to bring themselves within three, 64-61. The Texans responded quickly with a Williams’ mid-range jumper, followed by a Gaddy dunk in transition. Barnes capped the 6-0 run and forced a Lions’ timeout with Tarleton in front, 73-64.
The Texans took care of the ball to coast to the 79-66 win for their ninth victory of the year. Tarleton shot a season-best 65.4 percent from the floor in the second half. The mark was the highest in the second half since Feb. 6, 2023 at UT Arlington.
The Purple and White shot 32-for-55 from the field, 58.2 percent. Tarleton limited their turnovers to eight but lost the turnover battle, 8-6. LMU won the battle of the boards, 32-31.
Tarleton will open 2024 with its first WAC game since Dec. 2 and the first of an 18-straight conference games. The Texans will host UT Arlington on Thursday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m. in Wisdom Gym. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and Crews will have the radio call.
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