An 18-4 run lead to start the game led Texas A&M University-Commerce to an 81-46 rout of Southeastern Oklahoma State in Durant, Okla. on Saturday night.
The Lions (12-14, 7-4 LSC North) extend its winning streak to three games and had four players in double digits, including a career-high 17 from Derrick Darkis. The senior guard from Independence, Kan. was 5-for-5 from the 3-point line to spark A&M-C.
He was joined in double figures by four teammates of Leonard Bishop, Lance Jackson, Scooby Johnson and Rashad Brown. Bishop scored 13; Johnson added 12 and Brown and Jackson each chipped in 11.
The Savage Storm (3-22, 0-10 LSC North) got a team-high 14 from Ken Reed.
After an exchange of baskets on the first possession for both teams, it was the Lions who took control with 15 straight points, nine of which came on three 3- pointers. A&M-C kept the lead at double digits for the remainder of the contest.
With a 13-point lead at the intermission, the Lions dominated the second half. In the final 20 minutes, the Savage Storm were held to 18 points on five field goals and 20.8 percent shooting. On the reverse side, A&M-C hit 46.9 percent of their shots.
The 35-point victory by the Lions is the largest winning margin since a 51-point win (104-53) over Paul Quinn on November 25, 2005.
Lions down ranked SWOSU
By Brent Lyday
Sports Editor
Scooby Johnson and Kevin Widemond combined for 51 points to help the Texas A&M University-Commerce knock off the No. 14 nationally-ranked (NCAA Division II) Southwestern Oklahoma Bulldogs, 86-75, at the A&M-C Field House on Wednesday night.??
The Lions jumped to 11-14 overall and 6-4 in LSC North play. Southwestern fell to 20-5 and 8-2.??
With A&M-C leading 64-50 midway through the second half, Southwestern went on a 9-0 run with the help of two 3-pointers by Kendall Smith to pull within five.??
Cedric Griffin found Johnson underneath the basket for the one-handed jam to end the run.??
Smith, however, would answer with another 3-pointer to help the Bulldogs sneak within four, but A&M-C responded with a 12-3 run, including a bucket from Johnson and 3-pointers from Widemond and Derrick Darkis to extend the lead to 82-67.??
Johnson fired in double-double numbers with 30 points and 10 rebounds, including a 11-of-13 effort from the floor.??
Widemond sank four 3-pointers on his way to 21 points.??
Johnson scored 21 points in the second and Widemond added 16 to help the Lions shoot 67.9 percent in the period.
The team shot 57.9 percent for the game.??Darkis joined Johnson and Widemond in double figures with 12.??
Smith went 5-of-7 from beyond the arc and finished with 17 points to keep the Bulldogs within range in the second.??
After Widemond hit a 3-pointer for the Lions to open the game, Southwestern grabbed the lead for the majority of the first half.
A 10-2 spurt to close the first led the Lions to a 36-34 lead at the break.
Johnson scored nine points and Griffin added eight in the period.??
Trevor Guy paced SWOSU with 20 points and Nate Perry tallied 12 for the game.??
Clarke Hale, who hit a 3-pointer with less than a second remaining in regulation of the first matchup to help the Bulldogs down the Lions, 85-78, in overtime on Jan. 30, finished with 11.