Men's basketball off to 4-0 conference start

For the first time since the 1997-98 season, the Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team is off to a 4-0 start in Lone Star Conference division play as a result of a
72-62 win over host Southeastern Oklahoma State on Sunday afternoon.

A&M-Commerce (15-4, 4-0 LSC North) had four players in double figures but it was an all-around team effort that played a key factor in the win for the Lions. Despite hitting a season-low one three pointer, the Lions clamped down on defense and forced SOSU to shoot a season-low 29.2% from the field in the win. Another factor in the win was the Lions bench outscored its SOSU counterparts by a 37-9 margin.

Southeastern Oklahoma (5-13, 0-3 LSC North) was led by Darrell Hicks, who had a game-high 21 points on the strength of four 3 pointers to pace the Savage Storm. Jordan Lee, who added 13, joined Hicks in double figures.

The game was tied for 22 seconds early in the contest but a brief five-point spurt by senior Cardell Hunter put A&M-Commerce in front for the remainder of the contest. Hunter went on to score in double figures for the second-straight game, scoring 10 points.

He was joined in double figures by senior Ronnie Morgan, who added 13 and off the bench, freshman Preston Whitley scored 14 points and junior Tyris Dowell (pictured) had his first career double double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Whitley and Dowell combined for 10 of the 22 offensive rebounds for A&M-Commerce as the Lions also posted a decisive 46 to 22 advantage on points in the paint in the win.

The Lions went into the halftime break with a 35-26 advantage due in part to a 22 to 12 advantage on points in the paint and a 20 to 9 advantage in points from the bench.

SOSU started the second half with a 7-2 run to cut the deficit to two, 37-35, until sophomore Brad Hambrick hit his first field goal of the game for a four-point lead, 39-35.

The Savage Storm scored on their ensuing possession and the game remained close for the next two minutes until A&M-Commerce went on a game-deciding 11 to 1 spurt for a 56-44 lead with 8:44 left.

SOSU would get the deficit down to as little five on three more occasions. However, the Lions made five of its final six free throws to seal the win.

Next up for A&M-Commerce is a game against Central Oklahoma on Wednesday night at The Field House at 8 p.m. Both teams are currently undefeated and tied for first in the Lone Star Conference North Division along with Northeastern State.

Women's

Six players from host Southeastern Oklahoma State scored in double figures en route to a 109-76 win over Texas A&M University-Commerce on Sunday afternoon in Durant, Oklahoma.

The game remained close in the opening minutes of the contest until a decisive 26-7 run midway through the first 20 minutes gave Southeastern a 38-18 advantage with 6:30 left in the first half.

The host Savage Storm (12-5, 2-2 LSC North) would not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the contest. In the opening half, SOSU scored 59 first half points, including six 3 pointers and on the strength of 50% shooting to build a 25-point halftime advantage.

Kacey Russell had a team-high 21 to lead Southeastern Oklahoma. Destiny Brown added a double double with 18 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Jessica Hesse added 17, Christin Nichols chipped in 14, Ashley Hobbs and Elizabeth Dean scored 12 and 11 points, respectively.

A&M-Commerce (4-12, 1-3 LSC North) was led by junior Mattilyn McIntyre, who had a game-high 27 points in the loss for the Lions. Junior Genevieve Campbell, who had 20, and junior Anisha Ingram, who scored a career-best 10 points off the bench, joined her in double figures.

The Lions refused to concede in the second half as they outscored the Savage Storm by a 22 to 20 margin on points in the paint and outscored them 19 to 10 on points off turnovers.

Next on the schedule for A&M-Commerce is a contest on Wednesday night at 6 pm against Central Oklahoma at The Field House.