Box Score Commerce, Texas – No. 12 Tarleton State outrebounded No. 25 A&M-Commerce 35-25 taking advantage of offensive rebounds and second chance points handing the Lions their second straight loss 77-73 Saturday night.
 
Tarleton State held a 12-7 advantage of the offensive glass that led to 20 second chance points, while A&M-Commerce grabbed only seven offensive rebounds that led to eight second chance points.  The Lions were outrebounded for only the third time this season and for the second straight game.
 
The Lions held a 35-29 lead at the intermission thanks in part to 11 points from Christian Macauley and 10 points from LaDon Carnegie. The Lions also held a 45 percent shooting percentage compared to a 40 percent percentage for the Texans from the floor.  A&M-Commerce also poured four triples compared only three for Tarleton State in the first frame.
 
The Texans came out of the half and quickly tied the game at 35 with a 6-0 run highlighted by a 3-pointer from TaShawn Mabry.  The Lions answered and quickly mounted an 11-4 run to take a seven-point lead, 46-39, following a Macauley three-point play with 14:39 left to play.  The Texans chipped away at the Lion lead and pulled even at 48 at the 12-minute mark after 6-0 run sparked by a Mo Lee triple and a dunk by Michael Hardge.
 
After trading the lead, Tarleton State broke the fifth tie of the game this time at 53-53 with a Damion Clemons 3-pointer with 9:20 left.  The Lions cut the lead down to one point, twice, but the Texans extended a 59-58 lead out to eight points, 69-61, following a 7-0 run with 2:22 remaining.  The Lions were unable to recover over the waning minutes as the Texans held on for the 77-73 win.
 
The Lions finished 48 percent from the floor, while the Texans ended at 47 percent overall.  A&M-Commerce cooled off from long range to finish at 39 percent just slightly better than Tarleton State's 38 percent from long range.  The Texans held the advantage at the line going 19-of-27 from the charity strip.  A&M-Commerce knocked down 16 of their 20 attempts from the line.
 
Macauley led the Lions with 21 points for a career-high.  He was 8-of-14 from the floor and 5-of-7 from the free throw line.  Macauley became the fifth different Lion to lead the team in scoring in a game.  Carnegie followed with 15 points, while JR Owens tallied 10 points.  Anthony Adams finished with nine points and a season-high seven assists.
 
Mabry and Lee tallied 24 points a piece to pace the Texans.  Mabry was 7-of-18 from the floor and 4-of-11 from long range.  Lee was an efficient 8-of-13 overall, 2-of-3 from behind the arc and 6-of-8 from free throw line.
 
The Lions will return to the hard Wednesday February 4 at Cameron with tipoff set for 7:30 p.m. or immediately following the women's game.
 
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.
 
Tarleton State Game 20 Notes
- The Lions fall to 15-5 overall and 4-3 in the Lone Star Conference ... A&M-Commerce has now suffered losses in back-to-back games for the first time this season ... It is also the second straight loss to a ranked opponent after falling at No. 8 Angelo State Wednesday.
 
- Tarleton State improves to 18-2 overall and 5-2 in LSC play.
 
- Christian Macauley led the Lions with 21 points ... It is the first time Macauley has paced the Lions this season and the fifth different player to lead A&M-Commerce in scoring in a game ... Macauley's 21 points were also a career-high and the first time he eclipsed the 20-point mark in a game.
 
- Tarleton State outrebounded the Lions 35-25 ... It is only the third time this season the Lions have been outrebounded and the second in as many games.
 
- The Texans held a 12-7 advantage on the offensive glass ... Tarleton State outscored the Lions 20-8 on second chance points thanks in part to their offensive rebound advantage.