**For Immediate Release**
Aggies Fall by Eight to TAMIU
- by Scott Puryear of OPSU Sports on 01/13/2008

Goodwell, Okla. - There was athleticism all over the court in the Oklahoma Panhandle State gym on Saturday night as the Aggies tangled with the visiting squad from Texas A&M International. In the key Heartland Conference matchup, TAMIU finished with a big second half and defeated the Aggies 89-81.

It was a great game from the opening tip, and the contest featured a big time battle between two splendid forwards – Will Stephenson of the Aggies against Sean Tucker of TAMIU. On the night, the 6’5 Tucker (a junior) scored 25 points and pulled down a game high 12 rebounds. The 6’6 Stephenson tallied a game high 30 points and grabbed nine rebounds. The senior also blocked four shots and came up with three steals.

The Aggies played without 6’7 forward Fred Durr who averages over 13 points. Durr was on the bench in street clothes, nursing a shoulder injury suffered two nights earlier in the OPSU-Incarnate Word contest.

TAMIU (4-7 on the season and 1-1 in the Heartland) led 38-37 at halftime before securing the win with a 51-point second half.

The visitors led by as many as 13 points - 73-60 with just under eight minutes to play - but a determined 19-9 run by the Aggies cut the TAMIU lead to 82-79 at the 2:51 mark.

TAMIU finished the game with a 7-2 run and handed the Aggies their sixth loss of the season against seven victories. OPSU’s conference record now stands at 0-2.

The dependable LaChawn Anderson scored 17 points for the Aggies and hauled down seven rebounds. Junior guard Basil Leslie scored 14 points for OPSU.

The Aggies will hit the road next week and be in Jefferson City, Missouri for a Saturday clash with Lincoln University, another Heartland Conference foe.

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