STEPHENVILLE, Texas (December 21) – Cameron scored 8 points in the final 42 seconds of the second half but the late surge was just not enough. Tonight on the road in Stephenville, Texas, the Aggie men’s basketball team (8-3) dropped a Lone Star Conference Crossover game against the Tarleton State Texans (8-2). The game was scored 59-52 and was close throughout.
 
“Tarleton State is a good team so give them credit for the win,” Head Coach Wade Alexander said. “It’s always tough to win on the road in this league, but we played well enough to have a chance at the end.”
 
Tonight’s loss gives Cameron two in a row: their first losing streak of the 2009-2010 season. The loss also gives TSU two in a row over CU. The Aggies won the previous two meetings before the Texans’ current run.
 
Cameron led the game briefly midway through the first half, but other than that Tarleton State led the whole way. The Aggies were able to keep it close, just could never secure a lead.
 
“We didn’t shoot the ball very well tonight, but we did a good job with ball security,” Coach Alexander said. “We need to work on a few things, but there were definitely some positives from tonight’s game.”
 
The first half was scored 25-20, and the second half was scored 34-32. Both halves went the way of Tarleton State.
 
CU finished the game with 43 rebounds and a 27.4% (17-62) team shooting percentage, while TSU recorded 48 rebounds and a 30.2% (16-53) team shooting percentage. The Black and Gold was whistled for more fouls, 28-18, but won the turnover battle 14-12.
 
Additionally, the Aggies finished with 4 steals and 2 blocks compared to the Texans’ 7 steals and 6 blocks.
 
Only two Aggie players finished with double-digit scoring numbers as Dernodo Eiland and Jacquez Williams finished with 20 (7-15) and 11 (3-8) points, respectively. Additionally, these two Aggies were the only ones to hit more than one three-pointer.
 
Jamaar Burke led the Aggies in rebounding with 11 boards in 29 minutes. He was the only Aggie to finish with double-digit rebounding numbers, and he was the only player to grab more than 5 rebounds.
 
The Aggies now enjoy 9 days until their next game. On Wednesday, December 30, Cameron plays host to the Newman University Jets at 8:00pm in the Aggie Gym.
 
“After a few days off we’ll get right back after it and do our best to get ready for Newman,” Coach Alexander said. “We’ve got a couple of non-conference games coming up but then it’s into North Division play where you need to be playing your best.”