Commerce, Texas – Bryant Crowder poured in 23 points and Everrett Pleasant followed with a career-high 18 points including 17 in the first half as the A&M-Commerce men's basketball team opened Lone Star Conference play with a 92-68 rout of Texas A&M-Kingsville Wednesay night in The Field House.
 
Turning Point
- The Lions led start to finish in their LSC opener after sprinting out to a 16-6 lead six minutes into play thanks to seven quick points from Pleasant.  A&M-Commerce never looked back en route to the 92-68 win.
 
Quotable
"I thought we were efficient on offense, but we won the game on the defensive end. That was the best defensive effort of the season for our guys. " – A&M-Commerce head coach Sam Walker.
 
Highlights
- Crowder's 23 points led the Lions offensively. He was 9-of-10 from the floor.  Crowder added in seven rebounds and three blocked shots.
 
- Pleasant's 18 points came on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor and 8-of-10 from the free throw line. He was also active on the glass after hauling in a team-high eight rebounds.  Pleasant was 5-of-6 in the first half and with five rebounds.
 
-  Anthony Adams and Craig Fofang each tallied double-digits with 12 and 11 points respectively.
 
- Adams added five assists, while Jeremy Jones handed out four dimes.
 
The Lions shot 62 percent form the field in the first half and finished at 55 percent.  The Javelinas were limited to just a 34 percent shooting percentage.
 
- A&M-Commerce knocked down seven of their 11 three-point field goals for 64 percent.  Meanwhile, Kingsville went 10-of-26 from long range.
 
Inside the box score
- With the win, the Lions push their current winning streak out to eight games and improve to 11-2 overall and 1-0 in the LSC, while Kingsville slips to 8-4 on the season and 0-1 in league action.
 
- A&M-Commerce is 67-55 overall and 63-43 in LSC games all-time against Texas A&M-Kingsville.  The Lions have reeled off three straight wins in the series.
 
- The Lions also remained unbeaten in The Field House in 2015-16.
 
- The win snapped a two-year LSC opener losing streak. A&M-Commerce last conference opening win came back in 2012-13 when the Lions won 90-88 at Abilene Christian.
 
- A&M-Commerce's 63.4 percent from behind the 3-pt arc is its highest 3-pt percentage on the season.
 
- Crowder has now scored in double digits in 12 of the team's 13 games this season.  He's lead the team in scoring six times including five of the last six games.
 
- Pleasant's 18 points set a new career-high for the senior forward.
 
Summary
1st Half
- A&M-Commerce opened up play with a 16-6 run through the first six minutes thanks to Pleasant's hot start. The Lions pushed the lead out to 21 points, 46-25, with 2:38 left in the half before taking an 18-point, 49-31, advantage into the intermission.
 
2nd Half
- The Lions quickly regained the 20-point lead, 51-31, on the first basket of the half before cruising to the 24 point win, 92-68.
 
What's Next?
- A&M-Commerce hits the road for an LSC matchup at No. 6 Angelo State down in San Angelo for its next game on Saturday, January 9.  The Rams will enter the meeting at 12-1 on the season and 0-1 in conference play after suffering an 85-67 loss on the road at No. 9 Tarleton State.
 
Fans can follow all the action from the 2015-16 season on www.LionAthletics.com, through twitter @Lion_Athletics and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LionsAthletics.