Texas A&M University-Commerce scored 20 of the final 27 points to lead the Lions to a 27-17 win over host Southeastern Oklahoma State on Saturday afternoon at Paul Laird Field in Durant, Oklahoma.

A&M-Commerce (4-5, 4-0 LSC North) senior Stephen DeGrate sacked SOSU quarterback Justin Pitrucha and rambled 55 yards with a fumble with 1:29 left in the game to seal the Lions victory.

If the adage that defense wins championships, A&M-Commerce exemplified that on Saturday as the Lions sacked Pitrucha seven times on the afternoon and held the Savage Storm to 31 yards on the ground.

The win gives A&M-Commerce at least a share of the Lone Star Conference North Division title. An outright title is on the line for the Lions next week as they visit Southwestern Oklahoma State in Weatherford.

With the Lions' leading 20-17 with 3:47 to go, the Savage Storm were moving into position for a game-tying field goal. Facing a third and six from the Lions 35, A&M-Commerce came up with its fifth defensive touchdown of the season when DeGrate sacked Pitrucha and came up with the fumble for the touchdown. 

Southeastern Oklahoma (6-4, 3-1 LSC North) had tied the game at 17 early in the fourth quarter when Pitrucha completed a 37-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Nichols. For the afternoon, Pitrucha was 25 of 52 for 300 yards and a touchdown in the lo ss. 

The Lions found themselves behind from the opening kickoff when SOSU's Jerome Hewitt ran it back 97 yards to give the Savage Storm an early 7-0 advantage just 13 seconds into the contest. On their first possession of the game, SOSU extended its lead to 10-0 on a 25-yard field goal by Cole Jones after a 10 play, 56-yard drive.

A&M-Commerce got on the board late in the second quarter when Marcus Graham ran in from two yards out. Graham finished the game with a season-high 166 yards on 30 carries. During the drive, Adam Farkes completed passes of 11 and 18 yards to Reid Herchenbach and Adam Jones, respectively. Facing a third and eight, the Lions took advantage of a pass interference call on SOSU to set up first and goal and the eventual touchdown by Graham.

The Lions had the ball to start the second half and took its first lead of the game when Farkes found an open Taylor Fore for a 47-yard touchdown reception. Earlier in the drive, Farkes completed a 31-yard pass to Maurice DuPont.

An ensuing drive by SOSU ended when Laronzo Bursey intercepted a Pitrucha pass. The Lions came right back with the field goal by Abo-Mahmood from 24 yards out to extend the lead to 17-10.

Early in the fourth quarter, SOSU tied the game at 17 on the 37-yard touchdown pass to Nichols. Again, the Lions had an answer as Abo-Mahmood made his second-straight field goal to give A&M-Commerce a 20-17 advantage.

After both teams exchanged punts, SOSU took possession at midfield with 8:37 left in the game. The Savage Storm moved the ball down into the red zone and after an incomplete pass on first down and third down, A&M-Commerce senior William Green blocked a 31-yard field goal attempt by Jones in an attempt to tie it. After a three and out by the Lions offense, the defense rose to the occasion again with the play by DeGrate.