Men’s Basketball Comes Up Short at North American

STAFFORD, Texas – The Texas A&M University–Texarkana men's basketball team battled to the final buzzer Thursday night but came up just short, falling 74–71 to North American University in Red River Athletic Conference action.

The Eagles faced an early deficit, trailing 37–29 at halftime, before mounting a strong second-half push. TAMUT outscored the Stallions 42–37 after the break, cutting the margin to one possession in the closing minutes, but was unable to complete the comeback.

Jarren Cook led all scorers with a game-high 25 points, knocking down six three-pointers. Daryl Houston and Jason Bush Jr. each recorded strong outings as well, with Houston finishing with nine points and 10 rebounds and Bush adding nine points and 10 rebounds to anchor the interior. Deovaunta Williams chipped in eight points, while Jaylen Reedus added eight off the bench.

TAMUT controlled the glass, holding a 37–29 rebounding advantage and outscoring North American 34–28 in the paint. The Eagles also generated 12 second-chance points, but North American capitalized on turnovers and timely perimeter shooting to maintain its narrow edge.

Despite the setback, the Eagles showed resilience on the road, battling back from an eight-point halftime deficit and remaining competitive until the final moments.

The Eagles will return to action Saturday, January 10, traveling to New Orleans for a conference matchup against Xavier University of Louisiana. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.

Stay tuned to @TAMUT_Athletics for all things A&M–Texarkana men's basketball.