A&M-COMMERCE HEADS TO STEPHENVILLE FOR TEXAN TIP-OFF CLASSIC
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| UT-Permian Basin (0-4) | 36 | 40 | 76 |
| A&M-Commerce (3-2) | 51 | 33 | 84 |
| Stephenville, TX (Wisdom Gym) | |||
| UT-Permian Basin | A&M-Commerce |
|---|---|
| Pts: Rob Heyer - 23 | Pts: 2 Players (#01, #22 - 17) |
| Reb: Rob Heyer - 8 | Reb: Preston Whitley - 10 |
| Ast: 2 Players (#01, #21 - 4) | Ast: Preston Whitley - 6 |
| Team Statistics | UT-Permian Basin | A&M-Commerce |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 51.8% (29-56 ) | 54.3% (25-46 ) |
| Rebounds | 29 | 30 |
| Assists | 11 | 17 |
| Turnovers | 19 | 16 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 12 | 27 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 22 | 11 |
| Pts in the Paint | 28 | 32 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 6 | 2 |
| Bench Pts | 25 | 44 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Central (2-0) | 29 | 42 | 71 |
| A&M-Commerce (2-2) | 26 | 39 | 65 |
| Stephenville, TX (Wisdom Gym) | |||
| East Central | A&M-Commerce |
|---|---|
| Pts: Henry Pwono - 14 | Pts: 2 Players (#05, #20 - 16) |
| Reb: Jason Williams - 6 | Reb: Andrew Davis - 7 |
| Ast: Colby Carr - 5 | Ast: Jason Smith - 2 |
| Team Statistics | East Central | A&M-Commerce |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 49.0% (24-49 ) | 41.5% (22-53 ) |
| Rebounds | 38 | 31 |
| Assists | 15 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 25 | 20 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 21 | 18 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 14 | 7 |
| Pts in the Paint | 26 | 32 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 4 | 10 |
| Bench Pts | 31 | 37 |
A&M-Commerce Lions vs. East Central Tigers
Friday, November 16 • 5 p.m.
Wisdom Gym • Stephenville, Texas
Records: A&M-Commerce (2-1), East Central (1-0)
A&M-Commerce Lions vs. UT-Permian Basin Falcons
Saturday, November 17 • 5 p.m.
Wisdom Gym • Stephenville, Texas
Records: A&M-Commerce (2-1); UT-Permian Basin (0-2)
Live Video: TarletonSports.com (Saturday's game only)
Live Stats: LionAthletics.com
A&M-Commerce Game Notes (PDF)
Opening Tip
A&M-Commerce is back on the road for another preseason tournament, heading to Stephenville for the 2012 Taco Bell Tarleton Texan Tip-Off Classic this weekend. The Lions open up the tournament facing former Lone Star Conference opponent East Central at 5 p.m. Friday, November 16, followed by a rematch with UT-Permian Basin on Saturday, November 17 at 5 p.m.
Lions on the Web
Fans unable to make it to Stephenville can still keep up to date with every Lion basket as live stats of each game of the 2012 Taco Bell Tarleton Texan Tip-Off Classic will be available at LionAthletics.com. Live video of A&M-Commerce's game against UT-Permian Basin on Saturday will also be available, costing $5.95 and can be accessed through the link at LionAthletics.com.
Scouting the Tigers
2012-13: 1-0 overall, 0-0 neutral
Last Game: W vs. St. Gregory's (73-54)
Head Coach: Mac McConnell (Tarleton State, 1999). Second season at East Central (6-21, .222)
Key Players:
• #3 De'mario Fountain (Sr., G): 16 pts. (16.0 ppg.), 63.6 FG%, 25.0 3FG%, 3 reb. (3.0 rpg.)
• #52 Gregory Ardister (Jr., F): 10 pts. (10.0 ppg.), 83.3 FG%, 10 reb. (10.0 rpg.), 2 blk.
• #30 Miles Mitchell (Jr., G): 8 pts. (8.0 ppg.), 50.0 FG%, 50.0 3FG%, 100.0 FT%
• #1 Chris Lee (Sr., F): 8 pts. (8.0 ppg.), 50.0 FG%, 6 reb. (6.0 rpg.), 1 blk.
• #4 Braxton Reeves (Fr., F): 6 pts. (6.0 ppg.), 20.0 FG%, 22.2 3FG%, 3 reb. (3.0 rpg.), 2 stl.
Synopsis: East Central opened up the season with a 73-54 victory over St. Gregory's in Ada Saturday evening. De'Mario Fountain led the way with 16 points while Gregory Ardister added a double-double, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Tigers shot 43.3% from the floor and held St. Gregory's to just 12-of-53 shooting (22.6%) for the game.
Series Information: The series between A&M-Commerce and East Central dates back to the 1929-30 season as the teams have met 59 time previously heading into Friday's showdown. The Lions hold a 34-25 lead in the all-time series and have dominated in recent years, winning nine-straight and 15 of the last 16 since the 2000-01 season when Sam Walker took over the program. Former Lone Star Conference divisional foes, the two teams squared off twice each season from 2005 until 2011 as the Lions won a pair of nailbiters in 2010-11, taking a 68-63 victory in Commerce before outlasting the Tigers 65-63 in Ada.
Scouting the Falcons
2012-13: 0-2 overall, 0-2 neutral
Last Two Games: L vs. A&M-Commerce (80-65), L vs. Incarnate Word (80-77)
Head Coach: Dwaine Osborne (Clearwater Christian, 1994). Fourth season at UT-Permian Basin (38-45, .469)
Key Players:
• #42 Colton Thompson (Jr., F): 28 pts. (14.0 ppg), 69.2 FG%, 50.0 3FG%, 10 reb. (5.0 rpg), 3 stl.
• #1 Dominique Brooks (Jr., G): 27 pts. (13.5 ppg), 47.8 FG%, 42.9 3FG%, 7 reb. (3.5 rpg), 9 ast.
• #21 Madison Turner (So., G): 20 pts. (10.0 ppg), 33.3 FG%, 77.8 FT%, 7 reb. (3.5 rpg), 1 blk.
• #14 Anthony Dees (Jr., G): 19 pts. (9.5 ppg), 36.4 FG%, 100.0 FT%, 8 reb. (4.0 rpg), 2 stl.
• #5 Tyler Reynolds (Jr., G): 18 pts. (9.0 ppg), 37.5 FG%, 60.0 3FG%, 100.0 FT%, 4 ast., 1 stl.
Synopsis: UT-Permian Basin began their 2012-13 season at the St. Edward's Shootout in Austin, dropping a pair of games to Lone Star Conference opponents. The Falcons dropped a hard-fought 80-77 loss to Incarnate Word Friday evening, followed by an 80-65 defeat to A&M-Commerce Saturday as the Lions jumped out to an early first half advantage and never looked back.
Series Information: The game between A&M-Commerce and UT-Permian Basin last Saturday evening was the first-ever meeting between the two schools as the Lions prevailed 80-65 at the St. Edward's Shootout in Austin.
A&M-Commerce Rallies Past Dallas Baptist in Overtime in Home Opener
A&M-Commerce opened up the 2012-13 home schedule in dramatic style, rallying from five points down with less than a minute to play to force overtime, then dominated Dallas Baptist in the extra stanza to earn the 91-87 overtime victory. Trailing by as many as 11 in the first half, the Lions trailed 78-73 with 50 seconds remaining when Andrew Davis blocked a Patriot shot in the paint, then fed Jason Smith for a fast break lay-up to cut the gap to 78-75. The next time down, Smith recorded a steal under the basket and hit a streaking Tyrie Wooten who drilled a transition three with five seconds remaining to tie the game at 78-78 and force overtime. The Lions then outscored Dallas Baptist 9-2 early in the overtime period to help close out the victory in front of over 1,100 fans at the Field House.
Double-Double Davis
One of the key players early in the season for A&M-Commerce has been senior forward Andrew Davis, who has already logged three double-doubles through the first three games of the season. After notching 13 points and 11 rebounds in the season opener at St. Edward's and 10 points and 11 rebounds against UT-Permian Basin, Davis had his best outing of the season against Dallas Baptist, recording a career-high 20 points with 11 rebounds, including six offensive. The 2011-12 LSC Academic Player of the Year is averaging 14.3 points and 11.0 rebounds per game, both of which rank among the Lone Star Conference leaders.
Jackson Logs Career Night Against Patriots
Sophomore guard Quince Jackson came on strong at the end of the 2011-12 season, and has carried that momentum into his sophomore season. Jackson notched arguably his best game in a Lion uniform against Dallas Baptist Tuesday evening, finishing with a career-best 20 points with six assists, four rebounds and two steals. Jackson proved key in the Lion victory, hitting some crucial free throws in the second half before notching five points in the overtime period, helping the Lions pull away from the Patriots.
Newcomers Earning Their Stripes
A handful of newcomers are making an immediate impact for coach Sam Walker already this season. Senior guard Jason Smith, who transferred from A&M-Corpus Christi, tallied 15 points against Dallas Baptist, including a key lay-up and steal in the closing minute to force overtime. Smith is averaging 9.0 points and 5.7 rebounds on the year, just behind junior guard Tyrie Wooten's 9.7 points and 3.3 rebounds. Wooten, who transferred from Neosho Community College, has started all three games for the Lions averaging over 32 minutes a game and is shooting 35.3 percent from three-point range. Senior guard Stefon Carson is also having strong start to the season, averaging 10.3 points, 3.0 assists and 1.3 rebounds per game.
Looking Ahead
Following the pair of games in Stephenville at the Taco Bell Tarleton Texan Tip-Off Classic, A&M-Commerce returns to the Field House for the final two non-conference home games of the season. The Lions battle Ouachita Baptist at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 20th, followed by a meeting with Southern Arkansas on Monday, November 26th. Both games will be streamed live at LionAthletics.com, powered by Stretch Internet. A one-game subscription is $7.95 while a season pass is also available, giving access to every men's basketball home game this season.