College Station, Texas – Led by
Christian Macauley's double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, A&M-Commerce held a late lead over in-state and parent school, Texas A&M, before eventually falling 80-71 in the Lions' first exhibition game of the 2014-15 season.
"We are eight days from this being, real and we have to stay focused and continue to get better every day," head coach
Sam Walker said. "We are a team with good size, good point guard play and good shooting, although we did not show it tonight, but we have to continue to think we need to get better every day."
Despite shooting 1-of-12 from behind the three-point line and 3-of-9 from the free throw stripe, the Lions took a one point, 32-31, lead into the locker rooms at the half. A&M-Commerce did shoot 41 percent from the floor, while limiting Texas A&M to only 36 percent from the field. The Lions led by as many as eight points, 22-14, with 7:50 showing on the clock in the first stanza. The only time A&M-Commerce trailed was a 44 second stretch with 1:03 to 19 seconds to play in the first when Texas A&M led 31-30, but a
JR Owens up-and-under layup was the final basket of the frame giving the Lions the lead.
In the second half, the Aggies came out on a 9-4 run and took a four point lead, 40-36, two and half minutes back into play. After going back-and-forth with the lead, A&M-Commerce broke a tie at 46 with 13:51 to play with a 12-5 run to take a 58-51 lead four minutes later. Texas A&M chipped away and the lead over the next two and a half minutes before taking a 60-58 advantage with 7:21 remaining.
The Lions led for one more brief stint, 62-60, with 6:13 left, before the Aggies eventually pulled out to a 69-62 lead thanks to a 7-0 run over a two-minute span. Texas A&M held control over the final four minutes securing the 80-71 win.
The Lions ended the game 41 percent from the field, 23 percent from three-point range, 5-of-22 ,and 64 percent from the charity stripe. The Aggies heated up from the field in the second half shooting 46 percent to end the game at 43 percent clip, but cooled off from behind the arc ending the game at a 40 percent rate.
Led by Macauley, the Lions controlled the glass winning the battle of the boards 42-38.
Everrett Pleasant,
JR Owens and
Anthony Adams all chipped in nine points each to balance out the scoring.
LaDon Carnegie led the Lions with 13 points going 6-of-17 from the field, while Macauley's 11 points came on an efficient 4-of-5 shooting performance. He also converted three of his four free throw attempts.
The Aggies featured their own balanced attack placing six players in double figures led by Jalen Jones and his 16 points. Jones was 6-of-11 shooting in the game.
A&M-Commerce will play its final exhibition of the season at Texas Tech Saturday, November 8 at 7 p.m. in Lubbock at the United Supermarkets Arena before officially opening the 2014-15 season in the Tarleton State Tipoff Classic Friday, November 14 at 2 p.m. against New Mexico Highlands.
Fans can follow all the action from the 2014-15 season on www.LionAthletics.com, through twitter @Lion_Athletics and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LionsAthletics.
