A 14-0 run early in the first half sparked the Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team to a 76-57 win over St. Edward's on Saturday night at the A&M-Commerce Field House.

The Lions (2-0) found themselves behind by a slight 4-2 margin when the Hilltoppers' Shimeed Johnson made the first of two free throws. After a media timeout, the Lions scored the next 14 points of the game. In the spurt, the Lions scored eight of the 14 in the paint and junior Brad Hambrick hit the first of three 3 pointers to excite the home crowd.

The win puts A&M-Commerce at 2-0 for the second-straight year to start the season and for the fourth time in the 11-year tenure of head coach Sam Walker. The Lions built a double-digit deficit for most of the contest except for a 49-second window late in the first half.

Four Lions scored in double digits including Hambrick, who had a team-best 15 points. He was joined by senior Brian Singleton and sophomore Preston Whitley (pictured), who each added 11 and junior Desmond King, who added 10. The Lions also got a spark from junior LaBree Sledge, who came off the bench to hand out five assists and grab four rebounds to go along with two points.

St. Edward's (2-1) shot just 31% from the field and was led by Matt Miner, who scored a team-high 15 points – 12 of which came in the first half. The Hilltoppers were victimized by 23 turnovers which led to 25 points for A&M-Commerce. Plus, the Lions dominated inside the paint by a 54 to 22 margin.

Next, the Lions take to the road for the first time in 2010-11 when they travel to San Antonio, Texas for the St. Mary's Thanksgiving Tournament. A&M-Commerce will face Texas A&M-International on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and that game can be heard live on KETR (88.9 FM/www.ketr.org), followed by the host Rattlers on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.