Sports
A&M-Commerce remains in first in the LSC North with 72-62 win over Southeastern Oklahoma
By Daniel Kambel, Texas A&M Director of Media Relations
Jan 24, 2010

For the first time since the 1997-98 season, the Texas A&M
University-Commerce men's basketball team is off to a 4-0 start in Lone Star Conference division play as a result of a 72-62 win over host Southeastern Oklahoma State on Sunday afternoon.
 
A&M-Commerce (15-4, 4-0 LSC North) had four players in double figures but it was an all-around team effort that played a key factor in the win for the Lions. Despite hitting a season-low one three-pointer, the Lions clamped down on defense and forced SOSU to shoot a season-low 29.2% from the field in the win. Another factor in the win was the Lions bench outscored its SOSU counterparts by a 37-9 margin.
 
Southeastern Oklahoma (5-13, 0-3 LSC North) was led by Darrell Hicks, who had a game-high 21 points on the strength of four 3 pointers to pace the Savage Storm. Jordan Lee, who added 13, joined Hicks in double figures.
 
The game was tied for 22 seconds early in the contest but a brief five-point spurt by senior Cardell Hunter put A&M-Commerce in front for the remainder of the contest. Hunter went on to score in double figures for the second-straight game, scoring 10 points.
 
He was joined in double figures by senior Ronnie Morgan, who added 13 and off the bench, freshman Preston Whitley scored 14 points and junior Tyris Dowell had his first career double double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Whitley and Dowell combined for 10 of the 22 offensive rebounds for A&M-Commerce as the Lions also posted a decisive 46 to 22 advantage on points in the paint in the win.
 
The Lions went into the halftime break with a 35-26 advantage due in part to a 22 to 12 advantage on points in the paint and a 20 to 9 advantage in points from the bench.
 
SOSU started the second half with a 7-2 run to cut the deficit to two,
37-35, until sophomore Brad Hambrick hit his first field goal of the game for a four-point lead, 39-35.
 
The Savage Storm scored on their ensuing possession and the game remained close for the next two minutes until A&M-Commerce went on a game-deciding 11 to 1 spurt for a 56-44 lead with 8:44 left.
 
SOSU would get the deficit down to as little five on three more occasions. However, the Lions made five of its final six free throws to seal the win.
 
Next up for A&M-Commerce is a game against Central Oklahoma on Wednesday night at The Field House at 8 p.m. Both teams are currently undefeated and tied for first in the Lone Star Conference North Division along with Northeastern State.

Photos by Allen Rich