Commerce, Texas – Darrell Williams poured in 16 second half points and sparked a 9-0 run that open the half to lead A&M-Commerce in a come-from-behind win, 83-74, over Texas A&M-Kingsville Thursday night in a Lone Star Conference game inside the Field House.
 
Trailing 44-35, the Williams, who finished with a game-high 21 points for his 11th 20-point game of the season, and the Lion offense got rolling after a sluggish first half that saw A&M-Commerce shot at a 37 percent clip from the field and a 17 percent from three.  JR Owens started the run with a three-point play after slashing to the bucket, and Williams followed with a block on the defensive end then sprinting the floor for a thunderous dunk and the foul.  Williams made the free throw and after a layup by the Javelinas Eddie Leal stepped into a wide open three from the wing to the tie the game at 44 two minutes into the half. 
 
Kingsville answered with a triple from Jordan Jahr and held narrow lead for the next six and a half minutes before Owens nailed his second of three 3-pointer on the evening to give the Lions a 56-54 lead with 11:29 left to play.  Owens, who finished with a career-high 16 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the floor and a perfect 3-of-3 from long range, made his final trey of the evening with the Lions sitting on a six point lead, 65-59, with 7:34 remaining.
 
A&M-Commerce's lead hit double digits following baskets by Everrett Pleasant and Williams to give the Lions a 12-point, 75-63, advantage with just under three minutes showing on the clock.  The Williams bucket was his final make from the floor.
 
The Lions improved to 17-6 on the season and 7-4 in the LSC after knocking down eight of their final 11 free throws in the last two minutes to ensure the 83-74 win.
 
After shooting at an incredible pace in the first half, 52 percent from the floor and 64 percent from behind the arc, 9-of-14, the Javelinas cooled down to finish at 42 percent overall and 53 percent from three with 14 made triples.  The Lions heated up in the second half to a tune of 60 percent from the floor and 80 percent from three, 4-of-5, to finish with a 50 percent field goal percentage and a 46 percent 3-point field goal percentage.  The Lions held the advantage at the charity stripe with 26 free throws on 34 attempts for 77 percent, while the Javelinas only attempted 10 free throws with six makes for 60 percent.
 
The Lions controlled the paint and the glass with 36 points in the paint compared to 18 for the Javelinas and a plus 18 rebounding margin in the game, 41-23.
 
Christian Macauley was the third Lion player in double figures behind Williams and Owens with 12 points.  Macauley had 10 points in the first half on 4-of-9 shooting and a pair of free throws in the first frame and was the only player on the Lions in the first half with more than one made field goal.  All four of his made baskets came on alley-op dunks.  Williams recorded his first double-double in the last six games with 12 rebounds.  It was his LSC-leading 14th of the season.
 
Five Javelinas notched double digits with Jamar Goodwin leading the way with 17 points.   Duan Wright chipped in 16 points, while Jordan Jahr and Will West each added 13 points in the losing effort.
 
The Lions return to action Saturday night at 7 p.m. with South Dakota Mines and Technology for a rare late season nonconference match up.  A trip to Eastern New Mexico on the Wednesday awaits the Lions back in LSC play.
 
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.