Senior Ronnie Morgan had the first double double of his career, scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, to lead Texas A&M University-Commerce to a 73-60 win over host St. Edward's in the season opener on Sunday afternoon in Austin at the 2009 St. Edward's Shootout.
A&M-Commerce (1-0) won its season opener for the first time since the 2006-07 campaign. Joining Morgan in double figures was junior newcomer Brian Singleton, who had 10 points and a game-high seven assists in his A&M-Commerce debut. The Lions shot 48.1% from the field and forced SEU to turn the ball over 19 times in the win.
Newcomers Justin Wilkerson and Kevin Hayden also made impacts in their A&M-Commerce debuts. Wilkerson scored eight points and grabbed nine rebounds and Kevin Hayden scored seven points for the Lions.
St. Edward's (0-1) landed four of its five starters in double figures
including Jeff Miner, who had a team-best 14 points. Also for the
Hilltoppers, Bobby Watkins scored 13, Patrick Barnes added 11 and Reggie Shanks chipped in 10.
A jumper by Kevin Hayden gave the Lions a 6-4 advantage with 14:43 to go in the opening half. A&M-Commerce held the lead until a 14-0 run early in the second half by SEU put the host Hilltoppers in front by a 40-37 with 13:49 to go in the contest.
A&M-Commerce managed to tie it at 47 on a Brad Hambrick three pointer, his only one of the contest, with 10:31 remaining. A jumper by Sammy Jackson and a layup by Hambrick gave the Lions a four-point lead and they would not relinquish it down the stretch for the win.
The Lions are back in action on Monday at 4:30 pm when they take on Trinity in its final game of the 2009 St. Edward's Shootout.
