TAMUT suffers fourth loss in five games after falling flat against Xavier

A&M-Texarkana went flat in the second half of Saturday's conference game, resulting in an 87-71 loss to Xavier (La.) at the Patterson Center. The Eagles (5-11, 3-7 RRAC) have lost four of their last five and currently sit 10^th in the RRAC standings, a half game out of the eighth spot.

TAMUT led 35-34 at halftime but was outscored 53-36 in the second half as Xavier (12-4, 8-3 RRAC) shot 63 percent in the second half and 50 percent (31-of-62) for the game. In comparison, the Eagles' shooting dropped off from 47.8 percent in the first half to just 32 percent in the second.

Levelle Zeigler led all scorers with 27 points to go with five rebounds, Justin Davis pumped in 16 points with four rebounds and four assists, Justin Brown added 13 points and four assists and Jeff Norment finished with a dozen points. The Eagles made 22-of-24 free throws with three players – Zeigler (9-of-9), Davis (7-of-7), and Norment (4-of-4) – making all of their attempts.

Lance Williams finished with 27 points to lead the Gold Rush, who also got 19 points and nine rebounds from Cory Wells, 17 points from Jeremy Lindsey, and a 16-point, 15-rebound double-double from J'Quan Ewing. Xavier outscored the Eagles 36-12 in the paint and scored 21 points off turnovers. The Eagles finished minus-9 in the turnover column. Xavier led by as many as 20.

TAMUT is on the road next week, taking on Louisiana Christian on Thursday at 7:30 pm and LSU-Alexandria on Saturday at 4 pm.