RECAP: A&M-C hoops gets mixed results during long break

While most students took an extensive break between the end of one semester and the beginning of another, the men's and women's basketball teams at Texas A&M University-Commerce were still on the grind, with each team taking the court six times over the past month.

Both teams struggled during the break, but while the women failed to notch a victory over the past four weeks, the men were able to win a pair of games, including one in Lone Star Conference play.

The men's squad won a pair of games at the St. Edward's Classic in Austin back in mid-December, and picked up a conference victory during their first home game of the new year, finishing 3-3 during the break.

The Lions topped Harding by an 82-67 count and held off Henderson State for an 85-81 victory in Austin. Desmond King dropped in 30 points on 12-of-13 shooting, and pulled down 12 rebounds against Henderson State, earning tournament MVP honors along the way. LaBree Sledge was also named to the All-Tournament team.

When the team returned to LSC play, the Lions were met with resistance from West Texas A&M, which erased a 10-point halftime deficit to take a 77-72 win over A&M-Commerce. Brad Hambrick led the Lions with 25 points and eclipsed 1,000 career points during the game.

The Lions followed that with an 88-77 win over Eastern New Mexico at the Field House on Jan. 7. King and Preston Whitely each tossed in 21 points. In their most recent action, the Lions have dropped LSC games to Abilene Christian and Angelo State.

King scored a career-high 34 points in a 92-79 overtime loss against ACU, helping the Lions erase a 7-point deficit to force overtime. The Wildcats ran away in the extra frame, notching a 19-6 scoring advantage. The A&M-Commerce men currently sit at 6-9 overall, and 1-6 in LSC play.

While the men managed to split six games, the women were not as fortunate, coming up on the losing end in all six contests during the past month. The A&M-Commerce women have fallen to 1-13 overall, and 0-8 in LSC play while currently suffering through a 10-game losing streak.

The women suffered a 78-67 setback against A&M International, despite career-high's in scoring by Breanna Harris and Michelle Sutton. Danielle Dixon dropped 23 points on Newman in the following game, but it wasn't enough as the Lions suffered a 73-59 loss at home.

When the women returned to LSC play, they were embarrassed on the road against West Texas A&M, getting outscored by 42 points in the first half on the way to a 110-37 loss. The Lions returned home to get routed by ENMU, 69-52, and lost a closer contest to Abilene Christian, 77-65.

In the most recent contest, the women suffered through 26.9% shooting from the floor, losing 61-50, despite a 6-point, 15-rebound performance from Harris, the sophomore's sixth double-double of the season.

Both squads will host LSC leaders from Tarleton State on Wednesday, beginning with the women at 6 p.m.