Men's basketball team brings three-game win streak to new semester

The A&M-Commerce Lions men's basketball team won four games and lost two during the winter break, bringing their overall season record to 11-4 and their conference record to 1-0.

The last game of the winter break period, an away game at Central University, marked the beginning of conference play. The Lions defeated East Central 68-63, making a three-game winning streak. Junior Brad Hambrick led the team offensively with 22 points (7-13 field goals, 6-12 3-pointers, and 2-2 free throws). Defensively, junior Stephon Carson and senior Tyris Dowell topped the team with six rebounds each. The Tigers put up a fight, going into halftime with a tied score, but the Lions committed only three fouls and had a satisfactory defensive performance to pick up the win. The Lions play East Central again Feb. 26 at home to end regular season and conference play.

On Jan. 8, the Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas came to Commerce. The Lions defeated A&M-Kingsville 72-53, outscoring the Javelinas in the first half of play 35-18. Junior Desmond King led the team in scoring and rebounds with 23 points (9-13 field goals, 5-5 free throws) and eight rebounds. Junior Austin Brown and Dowell had notable defensive games with six rebounds apiece.

The first win of their three-game streak came at home on Jan. 6 against the University of the Incarnate Word. The Lions defeated the then undefeated Cardinals 94-74. The double-digit defeat was due in part to an outpour of offense by the Lions. King, Hambrick, Brown, Carson and freshman Preston Whitley all scored at least 14 points, and Dowell led the team with 10 rebounds.

The only loss of the holiday period came on the road at Tarleton State University. The Texans ran out 70-66 victors, though the Lions kept pace throughout the game and only lost in the last five and a half minutes after they were knotted at 60-60. The team was led by Dowell, who scored 15 points (7-14 field goals, 1-4 3-pointers), and King's 10 rebounds.

The win at St. Edwards on Dec. 30 was another double-digit win for the Lions at 82-72, with 26 of A&M-Commerce's points coming off the bench. Carson led the Lions offense with 16 points (3-4 field goals, 1-1 3-pointers, 9-10 free throws) and Whitley led defensively with 11 rebounds and one block. This was the second time this season that the Lions defeated the Hilltoppers after a 76-57 result back in November.

The first game of the break was a heartbreaking 102-94 loss at Midwestern State. The Mustangs outrebounded the Lions 27-44. King led the team with a commanding 28 points (11-13 field goals, 6-10 free throws) and seven rebounds. Dowell had a notable game as well with 22 points and four rebounds.

With a three-game winning streak in the balance, the Lions face Central Oklahoma at home tonight. Tonight's game will also mark the second in conference play.

The A&M-Commerce women's basketball team picked up a single victory out of six games during the winter break period.

This season has been a disappointing one for the team as their record currently stands at 2-13. The team picked up their first win of the season against Eastern New Mexico on Dec. 13 before the break began, but lost the next three.

The first match over the break was a 66-87 loss to the Midwestern State Mustangs on Dec. 20, despite a late rally from the Lions. Senior guard Mattilyn McIntyre was the team's leader in points putting up 17, and freshman forward Bianca Stevenson scored 16 points.

In the second game over the break, the Tarleton State TexAnns defeated the Lions 77-64 on Jan. 3. McIntyre led the team once again, scoring 18 points. Freshman guard Kourtney Briscoe-Adams also made her presence known by putting up 13 points. Despite the Lions having one more rebound than Tarleton State, they weren't able to put up as many points off of turnovers. The TexAnns also managed to outscore the Lions in the first period 41-29, though the Lions put up 35 points in the second period.

A&M-Commerce returned to the field house on Jan. 6 only to lose in heartbreaking fashion to the Incarnate Word Cardinals 65-67 to make it three straight losses. The game featured five lead changes. Down by two points with only seven seconds left in the game, the Lions were unable to pull of their second win of the season. McIntyre was the overall leading scorer in the game with 27 points and nine assists. Stevenson also had her best performance of the season with 24 points and nailed all four free throws.

A&M-Commerce finally got their first win over the break and second win overall against the A&M-Kingsville Javelinas 79-63 on Jan. 8. McIntyre was once again the team's leader in scoring with 22 points and 12 assists. Junior forward Apreia Booker and freshman guard Danielle Dixon both put up 12 points. Stevenson also put up 11 points, while the entire team made 53 percent of their field goals and an impressive 57 percent from the three-point line.

The Lions failed to get on their first winning streak of the season with a loss to the Texas Woman's University Pioneers 63-73 on Jan. 12. McIntyre and Stevenson were the team's high scorers with 21 points and 16 points, respectively. Freshmen forward Abigail Leaupepe-Tele also managed to put up eight points with five rebounds.

The Lions dropped their next two games, losing to the East Central University Tigers 77-89 on Jan. 15 and to the University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos 87-54 on Jan. 19. The Lions hope to snap their losing streak when they play the Northeastern State RiverHawks at the Field House this Saturday at 5 p.m.