AUSTIN – Huston-Tillotson University's men's basketball team won its third consecutive home game Tuesday as the Rams defeated Red River Athletic Conference rival Texas College 81-77.
At HT's Branch Gymnasium,
Ja'Patrick Blackmon came off the bench to score a career-high 14 points and lead three Rams in double-figures. Blackmon shot 4-of-9 from the floor and scored his 14 points in 17 minutes played, which marked a season high for the sophomore from Camden, Ala.
Khuath Gatkuoth scored 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting and pulled in eight rebounds for the Rams (3-9, 3-7 RRAC).
Charles Hallmon added 11 points and 10 rebounds for his fifth double-double in seven games for HT; he also handed out a team-high three assists Tuesday.
The visiting Steers (4-7, 3-6 RRAC) were led by Ty'Quan Neal's game-high 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting; he also pulled in eight rebounds. Jacob Keys scored 15 points off the Texas College bench, while Romeo Postell scored 14 points and claimed 10 rebounds.
HT led 43-36 at the half after shooting 50 percent (14 of 28) from the floor during the game's first 20 minutes. The Rams led throughout the first half and built several leads of seven more points in the period, but Texas College kept pace with their hosts.
The Rams were poised to run away with the contest early in the second half as they built a 17-point lead, thanks in part to eight unanswered points between the 15:51 and 14:22 marks of the second half. Consecutive 3-pointers from
JahVante' O'Connor and Gatkuoth gave the Rams a 59-42 lead.
HT held a 12-point lead with a little more than four minutes remaining in the contest before Texas College reeled off eight unanswered points in less than 70 seconds to cut the Rams' advantage 73-69 with 2:53 left in the game. After
Isaiah Halliburton knocked down a pair of free throws for HT, the Steers scored six more unanswered points to tie the score at 75-75 with 57 seconds left in the game.
With momentum seemingly on Texas College's side, the Rams stanched the rally on their next trip down the floor as
Jayce Wright found Gatkuoth open at the basket for an easy layup, giving the Rams a two-point lead with 39 seconds left to play.
The visitors again had a chance to tie the game, but their next possession came to a premature end when Keys committed a turnover with roughly 20 seconds still left on the shot clock. The Rams then regained a two-possession lead at the free throw line as the waning seconds expired.
Wright,
Keondre Newman, and
Malkeyce Harris all scored eight points apiece for the Rams; Wright also recorded six steals. Halliburton scored seven points and tallied two assists and two steals for HT.
The Rams return to action after the New Year when they visit Texas A&M–Texarkana to resume play Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. HT's doubleheader at Jarvis Christian, originally scheduled for Jan. 2, has been pushed back to February.
– HT –
