Lubbock, Texas – Five Lions scored in double figures led by
LaDon Carnegie and his 18 points in A&M-Commerce's 72-69 exhibition win over NCAA DI and Big 12 member Texas Tech Saturday night in the Texas-United Supermarkets Arena.
"Winning is always good, but it is early and we have a lot of room to improve," A&M-Commerce head coach
Sam Walker said. "We are long, can guard and get rebounds, but we are not executing well right now. We have too many turnovers, and we need to see that number lowered during the season."
Carnegie and his team-leading 18 points came on a 6-of-13 shooting performance from the field. He was 2-of-7 from behind the arc and made four of his six free throw attempts.
Darrell Williams followed with a double-double -- 14 points and 10 rebounds. The Lions, who had six double-doubles in 28 games in 2013-14, have now accomplished the feat twice in as many exhibition games.
Anthony Adams followed with 11 points, while
Christian Macauley and
Everrett Pleasant each chipped in 10 points. Pleasant also hauled in seven rebounds.
The two teams entered the half with the game knotted at 25, but A&M-Commerce took an eight point lead, 45-37, with 10:25 remaining following a Williams lay-in to seemingly take control the game. The margin hit 10 points, 51-41, two minutes later after two Adams free throws, and the Lions continued to hold the gap late in the game. Leading by seven, 61-54, the Lions saw their advantage slip away as the Red Raiders strung together a 7-0 run to tie the game after two free throws by Zach Smith with 16 seconds remaining. A&M-commerce was unable to hit the game winner as the two teams went gridlocked at 61 into overtime.
The Lions broke through first in the overtime period on
JR Owens' only points of the game, a triple with 3:18 showing to give A&M-Commerce a 64-61 lead. It would be a lead never relinquished as the Lions clung on for the three-point win, 72-69, over Texas Tech. It was Macauley, who put the game out of reach with a pair of free throws with 14 seconds left.
The Lions outshot the Red Raiders 39 percent compared to 34 percent from the field. Neither team was impressive from long range, but the edge went to A&M-Commerce to a tune of 29 percent compared to 12 percent for Texas Tech. From the charity stripe, the Lions made 16 of their 22 attempts for 73 percent, while Tech hit 21 of their whopping 32 attempts for 66 percent. The two teams tied on the glass with 47 rebounds each. A&M-Commerce handed the ball over 23 times resulting in 20 Texas Tech points, while the Red Raiders turned the ball over 19 times leading to only nine Lion points.
Texas Tech placed two players in double-digits with Justin Gray leading the way with 14 points, while Keenan Evans followed with 11 points.
"My parents went to school here and so did my aunts and uncles on both sides of my family. So, it was nice to come down here, get a win and be successful today," Walker added.
The Lions open officially open their season Friday, November 14 at 2 p.m. in the Tarleton State Tipoff Classic in Stephenville against New Mexico Highlands. A&M-Commerce will turn around and play Lubbock Christian on Saturday, November 15 at 2 p.m. to conclude the tournament. The Lions open their home slate in the Lion Field House with Sul Ross State on Monday, November 24 at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale now in the A&M-Commerce ticket office. Fans purchase tickets by stopping by the ticket office located in the Field House, by calling the ticket office at (903) 886-5558 or online at www.WeAreLionsTix.com.
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.
