It wasn’t the prettiest or easiest way to do it, but the A&M-Commerce Lions clinched the eighth seed in the Lone Star Conference tournament last weekend, setting up a quarterfinal matchup with top seed Midwestern State on Wednesday night at the Allen Event Center in Allen. The game is scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m.
The Lions had to win three straight games to get in the tournament, and all three came down to the wire. The three games were won by a combined 12 points, but the Lions wouldn’t have it any other way.
“We worked hard, and the kids finally see that hard work pays off,” coach Sam Walker said. “The kids really put there all into it, and it shows they have earned a bid in the tournament.”
The Lions (10-16 overall, 5-13 LSC) have a difficult challenge awaiting them against the top team in Midwestern State (23-3 overall, 15-3 LSC). The Lions last played the Mustangs Nov. 30 at The Field House, suffering a 65-53 defeat.
“That was then, and this is now. We are a much better team now than we were back then,” assistant coach Robert Taylor said. “It is extremely important that the guys realize that we cannot let the last game affect us, we’ve got to keep moving.”
Along with the coaches, the players are pumped up for this matchup as well.
“I am extremely glad we made it into the tournament, it is like a burden has been lifted off my chest,” senior guard Brad Hambrick said. “This feeling right now can only be celebrated for these few days, then it is back to work, Midwestern is a very good team.”
The Mustangs have a deep team this year led by Michael Loyd who tops the team with 13.1 points per game, and Anthony Harris, who averages 12.0 points per game. These two men will be a hassle for the Lions all game long.
The Mustangs also have David Terrell, a monster in the paint with 21 blocks this season, as well as 6.3 rebounds per game.
“Our big men will have their hands full dealing with him,” Walker said. “We will have to rely on our big men to play smart and physical.”
The Lions have weapons of their own as well. Desmond King leads the Lions in scoring with 15.3 points per game, as well as 5.3 rebounds per game. King is the Preseason Player of the Year in the LSC.
Along with King, the Lions have Brad Hambrick (12.8 ppg), Preston Whitley (11.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg), and Devondrick Walker (9.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg) to aid King. Walker and Whitley have helped out the Lions scoring since to the injury to senior guard Labree Sledge. Sledge leads the team in assists with 105, but suffered a season-ending injury a few weeks ago.
“We are not scared of Midwestern, and we believe that we can beat them,” Walker said.