Lions to tangle with LSC leader Tarleton State tonight

The basketball teams from Texas A&M University-Commerce will face their biggest tests of the season Wednesday, as the Lions will welcome Tarleton State to the Field House for Lone Star Conference hoops beginning at 6 p.m.

Tarleton's men and women each sit atop the LSC standings and will try and extend their current win streaks against the Lions, who are aiming to get some momentum heading into the second half of their respective conference schedules.

The A&M-Commerce women (1-13, 0-8 LSC) will tangle with the TexAnns (11-5, 8-0 LSC) at 6 p.m., hoping to put an end to TSU's 9-game win streak and hand the TexAnns their first conference blemish. Tonight's games are the front end of a home-and-home series between the two teams. They will meet again Saturday at 5 p.m. in Stephenville.

The Lions will be looking to sophomore Breanna Harris, who has notched six double-doubles this season, including one in the Lions' most recent outing against Angelo State on Jan. 14. Harris ranks second on the team in scoring (10.3 ppg) and lead the Lions in rebounds (9.8 rpg).

A&M-Commerce will also rely heavily on the scoring of sophomore Danielle Dixon, who leads the team with 13.3 points per game, and ranks 11^th in the LSC in the same category.

The TexAnns turn to Rockwall siblings Shelby and Peyton Adamson, who toss in an average of 13.8 and 13.2 points, respectively. Kiara Wright leads TSU at 14.8 points per game. Another Rockwall-area player, Heath's Shanae Lowrance, plays a major role with 8.1 points and 6.2 rebounds each game.

On the men's side, the Lions (6-9, 1-6 LSC) face a very similar scenario against a Tarleton State squad ranked sixth in the latest NABC Division II Coaches Poll. The Texans enter Wednesday's tilt with a 15-1 mark this season, including an untarnished 7-0 record in LSC play. Like the women, these two teams are also kicking off a home-and-home, with the back end coming Saturday at 7 p.m. in Stephenville.

Seniors Desmond King (16.6 ppg) and Brad Hambrick, along with junior Preston Whitely, lead the charge for the Lions, who are hoping to end a two-game skid. King set a personal best with 34 points against Abilene Christian last Wednesday, while Hambrick reached a pair of milestones, scoring his 1,000^th career point and 200^th career three-point shot.

The Texans use a balanced attack featuring seniors Chris Harrell (13.3 ppg), Fabian Wilson (10.4 ppg) and Shedrick Haynes (10.1 ppg). Tarleton state's most recent wins have come against West Texas A&M (59-56), Angelo State (76-55), and Abilene Christian (62-53).

Each of Wednesday's contests can be heard on KETR 88.9 FM or online at KETR.org. Live stats of both games will be available at LionAthletics.com.