Lion men down Eastern New Mexico

PORTALES, N.M. — Texas A&M; University-Commerce senior Ronnie Morgan scored a career-high 24 points to lead the visiting Lions to a 75-58 Lone Star Conference basketball win over host Eastern New Mexico.

The win improves the Lions to 9-1 and sends A&M-Commerce; to its best start since the 1998-99 campaign. Eastern New Mexico falls to 5-5.

Morgan scored 16 of his point in the second half and finished with eight rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots. He was joined in double digits by sophomore Brad Hambrick, who added 16 points and seven rebounds.

Three members of Eastern New Mexico scored in double digits for the Greyhounds in the defeat. Jimmie Marshall and Reggie Nelson each scored 11 and Victor Reid added 10.

Trailing by 41-39 with 12:32 to go in the game, the Lions got back-to-back buckets by Hambrick grab the lead for good.

A&M-Commerce; managed to build the lead to double digits after a 3-pointer by Hambrick and it remained that way for the rest of the contest.

The Lions held Eastern New Mexico to 35.1 percent shooting from the field and the Greyhounds managed to hit just 48.4 percent of their free throws. A&M-Commerce; knocked down 50 percent of its shots from the field and 71.4 percent of its free throws.



Fall to Buffs

CANYON — The Texas A&M; University-Commerce men’s basketball team saw its five-game winning streak end during a 92-71 loss to host West Texas A&M; on Monday night.

West Texas A&M; (7-4) rallied from a 40-38 halftime deficit and held the Lions to 32.1 percent shooting in the second half. The Buffs landed five players in double figures, including Nick Burns, who had a game-high 26 as he went 13-for-13 from the free-throw line and hit three 3-pointers.

Joe Mincey also scored 20 points for the Buffaloes, Bijan Dotson and LaDarius each added 13 and Jacquiese Holcombe scored 10.

A&M-Commerce; (9-2) had three players in double figures including 15 from Brian Singleton, 11 from Ronnie Morgan and the first double-double of the season from Sammy Jackson, who had 12 points and 10 rebounds. In his most significant action as a Lion, freshman Andrew Davis came off the bench to score six points and grab nine rebounds.

After a layup by Morgan put A&M-Commerce; in front, 56-53 with 11:25 to go, West Texas A&M; went on a 11-1 spurt to regain an advantage it would not relinquish down the stretch. The Lions trimmed the deficit to as little as eight but West Texas A&M; scored 19 of the final 25 points.

Next, the Lions will play their final non-conference game when A&M-Commerce; travels to Arkadelphia, Ark. to face Henderson State on Dec. 29 at 7 p.m.

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