Exhibition hands men’s basketball team loss

Division I opponent to start the season is a way that Head Coach Johnny Estelle gauges the readiness of his young men.

“The A&M game was a difcult game,” Coach Estelle said. “The game is not refective of what we’re going to be.”

Friday, Nov. 4, the Javelina men’s basketball team traveled to College Station for their exhibition against the Aggies for the third meeting, where they fell 90-47. This was the largest margin the Javelinas have lost to the Aggies.

The Javelinas are coming into the season with nine total newcomers and fve freshmen on the roster.

Facing of against a

The team is set to play South Dakota Mines to start the season in the Gil E. Steinke Physical Education Center and the coaching staf has worked hard in the of-season to get the new guys on board and help the seven returners be the example to start of the 2022-23 season.

Assistant Coach Omar Gonzalez has entered his ffth year on the staf and has, like every other group, enjoyed putting in the work to get all the

To the Sunfower State

petitors.

young men on the same page.

“We have seven players returning from the previous season,” Coach Gonzalez said. “We knew we had to teach and help the nine newcomers get on board with our program and our style, but to their credit, they’ve done nothing but grow and learn every day.”

Senior Creighton Avery led in all major categories except blocks in the Aggie exhibition and is one of the leaders heading into this new season.

Last year, the sixfoot guard from Corpus Christi was second on the team in scoring and assists after starting the season with an injury and has come into this season healthy and with improvements to his game. “Last year was a difcult year for me coming into the season injured,” Avery said. “I attacked every day and I’m coming in healthy, and I think this year will be diferent for me.”

The Javelinas hope to continue the winning ways already established this fall.

“We are always looking forward to uphold- ing our responsibilities and duties as the men’s basketball program,” Coach Estelle said. “This year is a special year, and we would love to continue what volleyball and football has initiated.”