Men's basketball to finish first road trip

After suffering their first loss of the 2009-10 campaign to Texas A&M-Kingsville, the Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team will play Ouachita Baptist University in the first of two meetings between the teams this season. The first is on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Arkadelphia, Ark. 

The Lions started out the season going 4-0, winning all their matches in both the St. Edward's Shootout tournament and the St. Mary's tournament. 

"It's a good start," head coach Sam Walker said about his team's season so far. "We're going to bounce back and get back to winning ways." 

Early standouts include senior Ronnie Morgan, who leads the team in points with 70 and gathered 29 rebounds, junior Brian Singleton, who has 63 points and 14 assists, and senior Cardell Hunter, who leads the team with 26 assists. Pre-season Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Year Justin Wilkerson has put up 35 points so far. 

"We've got three pretty good seniors in Ronnie Morgan, Sammy Jackson, and

Cardell Hunter, and freshman of the year Brad Hambrick," Walker said. "Brian Singleton has been the best newcomer. Those five guys have set the tone." 

In the 72-62 loss to A&M-Kingsville, four Lions players scored in double-digits. Singleton led the team with 15 points, while sophomore Brad Hambrick was next in line with 14 points. Morgan and Sammy Jackson joined them with 11 and 10 points, respectively. 

Ouachita Baptist is 1-4 this season, as a 79-72 result against Incarnate Word is their only win. The Tigers are lead by sophomore Reggie Britton who has 55 points and 11 assists. Freshman Austin Mitchell and senior Belford Williams are also team standouts. Mitchell has put up 46 points this season, while Williams is the team leader in rebounds with 32. 

Last season, Ouachita Baptist won both of the meetings between these two teams. The Nov. 22 match-up ended in a 66-59 loss by A&M-Commerce, during which Hunter scored 17 points, had three assists and four rebounds. The Tigers then won a Dec. 4 game 67-63. Hambrick scored 15 points, including three shots from beyond the three-point line, and had three rebounds in this game. Hunter also did well, scoring 12 points, dishing out three assists and getting four rebounds against Ouachita Baptist. 

This is the last away game before A&M-Commerce has its home opener against Henderson State University at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 8. Walker said he hopes having a home crowd will prove to be a good thing after coming off so many road games. He said while it is a major impact, sometimes players can get lost in playing for the crowd. 

"I know it's a big impact," he said. "I hope it is a positive impact."