STEPHENVILLE, Texas (Nov. 18, 2011) ― The men’s basketball team maintained its perfect record Friday with a 61-54 win against the MIAA’s Washburn University.

“It was a good win for us and our program,” said Head Coach Wade Alexander. “Washburn is a well known team.”

Cameron (3-0, 0-0) slowed the pace in the first half and was able to play its brand of ball en route to a 22-19 lead at the buzzer. The Black and Gold’s largest lead of the half was seven, which it held twice at 12-5 and 14-7. Senior Milton Garner led the team with 7 points in the first half, followed by junior Vinicius Telo.

“We were trying to play good defense and we did that, especially in the first half,” Alexander said. “In the second half, they were pressing and stuff, so it (the game) got up and down (the court).”

Washburn (1-2) came out firing in the second half and gained the lead for the first time in the game at 23-22; it wouldn’t last long as the Aggies went on a 7-0 run, finished by a sophomore Jonathan Patino 3-point shot. The Ichabods responded and remained persistent, trailing by as many as nine at one point and pulling it as close as three points.

The Aggies would move in for the kill at the 2:25 mark, as Washburn had pulled to within four at 52-48. Cameron held its opponent without a point for the next minute while pouring in five of its own to make it 57-48. From there, it was a matter of hitting free throws, which Alexander’s squad does very well, as the Aggies claimed a 61-54 victory.

Garner and Telo finished the game atop the score chart for Cameron with 14 points each. Garner posted a double-double, adding 10 rebounds to his 14 points in 38 minutes. No other Aggies reached double digits, as senior Thomas Razor and sophomore Desmond Henry each posted nine points to follow Garner and Telo. Junior Andrew “Big Country” Thomas was a force in the post, finishing with nine rebounds and six points.

“Milt Garner had a great game for us, and if “Country” can stay out of foul trouble he can be a beast for us,” Alexander said. “Our offense didn’t really play great, but they had a lot to do with that as well. We stuck to our game plan and were able to win our game. If we do that and continue to learn as the year goes on we’ll be okay.”

Cameron will return to action tomorrow against #11 Central Oklahoma at 5 p.m.