Stephenville, Texas – The No. 3 seed A&M-Commerce men's basketball team is dancing for the first time in ten years, but will play No. 19 and No. 6 seed Angelo State, a team the Lions will meet for the third time in 17 days, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament's South Central Regional.

 

Fast-break Points About A&M-Commerce
- The Lions have won nine of their last 11 games after knocking of No 2 seed and No. 17 ranked Angelo State, 68-61, in the LSC Tournament Championship.
- The Lions beat WT in the first round, 79-64, after using a suffocating defense and 25 points and 21 rebounds from Darrell Williams ... His 21 rebounds set the LSC Tournament single-game record.
- A&M-followed up with a 53-51 win over No. 1 seed and No. 7 ranked Tarleton State in the semifinals ... Williams noted 20 points and 12 rebounds.
- Williams was named the LSC Tournament's MVP ... LaDon Carnegie and Anthony Adams were named all-tournament team ... It was the first time since 1984 the Lions had three players named all-tournament.
- A&M-Commerce saw Darrell Williams earn Newcomer & Player of the Year from the Lone Star Conference ... He was also a first team selection ... Christian Macauley claimed his second all-defensive team and Defensive Player of the Year honors ... Macauley and LaDon Carnegie earned second team all-conference.
- At 24-7 overall the Lions have won 20 games for the first time since 2004-05 ... It's the second time under head coach Sam Walker and the 15th time in program history ... The Lions are currently receiving votes in the final regular season poll.
- The Lions were ranked in the NABC Top 25 poll for the 26th time in program history ... Last ranking since No. 25 on Dec. 3, 2013.
-  Darrell Williams leads the LSC with 22 double-doubles, in scoring 18.5 points per game, rebounds 12.2 rebounds per game -- only player averaging a double-double ,
- Williams grabbed 21 rebounds in the WT win setting an LSC Tournament record for rebounds in a single-game.
- Williams has grabbed 15 plus rebounds in nine games this season and 20 plus rebounds three times during the year ... He is one of only two NCAA DII players with two 20-rebound games.
- The Lions are sixth in the NCAA in defensive rebounds, fifth in free throw attempts and in free throws made, 11th in total rebounds and 15th in field goal percentage defense.
-  Williams is ranked third in the NCAA in double-doubles with 21... Williams is also fifth in the NCAA in offensive rebounds per game and in total rebounds and sixth in rebounds per game.
- A&M-Commerce had a LSC Player of the Week in each of the first four weeks of the season ... Darrell Williams has won one offensive POTW and two straight defensive POTW awards ... LaDon Carnegie was named offensive of POTW once ... Williams followed with his second offensive player of the week.
- Head Coach Sam Walker is in his 15th season and is the school's all-time winningest coach at 250-179 and 103-93 in LSC games.
 
About the Lions in the LSC Tournament
- A&M-Commerce has appeared in the tournament a conference-best 36 times, posting a 28-32 record in 59 games.
- The Lions are 5-3 in LSC Tournament games in the Allen Event Center.
- The Lions have won the championship four times, counting the 2015 title, it had been ten years, 2005, when the Lions won at the Field House, while winning back-to-back championships in 1977 and 1978.
 
About the Lions in the NCAA Tournament
- A&M-Commerce is making its fifth appearance in the NCAA Tournament, the last of which game after the 2004-05 season ... The Lions also appeared in 1996, 1997 and 1998 NCAA Tournaments ... In the 2005 regional, the Lions won the first two games before falling to Tarleton State in the regional finals, 75-70 ... In 1998, the Lions lost their 1st round game against Central Oklahoma, 107-103 ... In 1997, The Lions won the regional after wins over Central Missouri, Washburn and Pittsburg St. ... The Lions lost in the first game of the NCAA Elite Eight, 79-67, to Northern Kentucky ... It was the only time the Lions won the regional ... In 1996, the Lions lost their 1st round game to Northern Kentucky, 79-67.
- Overall the Lions are 5-4 in nine NCAA Tournament games.
 
A&M-Commerce vs. Angelo State:  The Series
- The Lions and Rams have met 88 times prior to Saturday's game with A&M-Commerce holding a 46-42 advantage in the series and a 40-39 advantage in LSC games for the Lions ... ASU is the fifth most played opponent in program history ... Under Coach Walker the Lions are 15-9.
- The Lions have won six of the last eight and eight of the last 11 meetings in the series ... Then No. 8 ASU routed the Lions 79-63 in the first meeting this season, but the Lions got revenge in a thrilling last second 71-68 win in Commerce on a game-winning dunk by Christian Macauley and claiming the LSC Tournament Championship against the Rams, 68-61.
 
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