COMMERCE - The Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team starts its 2016-17 season at home this weekend by hosting the LSC/Heartland Challenge in the Field House on Friday and Saturday.

The Lions bring a new-look lineup to the perennially successful hardwood tradition in Commerce, as they enter the 17th season under the direction of head coach Sam Walker.

GAME ONE
WHO: Oklahoma Christian University at Texas A&M University-Commerce 
WHEN: Friday, November 11 at 4 p.m.
WHERE: The Field House on the A&M-Commerce campus
LIVE VIDEO: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/tamucommerce/
LIVE AUDIO: Lion Sports Network -- KETR 88.9 FM, Commerce (http://www.ketr.org) 
LIVE STATS: http://statb.us/b/147036

GAME TWO
WHO: Newman University at Texas A&M University-Commerce 
WHEN: Saturday, November 12 at Noon
WHERE: The Field House on the A&M-Commerce campus
LIVE VIDEO: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/tamucommerce/
LIVE AUDIO: Lion Sports Network -- KETR 88.9 FM, Commerce (http://www.ketr.org) 
LIVE STATS: http://statb.us/b/147037

TICKETS
Adult tickets for doubleheaders will be $8, with children ages 4-12 admitted for $5. Cash and credit cards are accepted at the gates.
IN PERSON: Visit Lion Sales and Service in the Field House on the A&M-Commerce campus.
BY PHONE: Call (903) 468-8756 for information.
ONLINE: Visit www.WeAreLionsTix.com.
CONTACT: Gabby Tucker (gabby.tucker@tamuc.edu), External Relations Coordinator – Marketing and Ticket Sales

ALSO IN THE FIELD HOUSE
The other two games of the LSC/Heartland Challenge feature Cameron vs. Newman at 6 p.m. Friday and Cameron vs. Oklahoma Christian at 2 p.m. Saturday.

FAST BREAK
• A&M-Commerce will look for new faces to contribute in 2016-17 as five Lions return who saw action last year return.
• De'Andre Carson is the leading returning scorer, averaging 5.7 points, 2.4 assists, and 2.3 rebounds per game.
• Other returning letterwinners include Isaac Asrat (4.6 ppg), Brandon Fields, Chris Gatling, and Weston Zeller.
• 10 transfers bolster the lineup as the Lions look to start the season on a high note.

A LOOK AT THE PRESEASON AND OPENING WEEKEND WITH COACH WALKER

The Lions' final preparations for the 2016-17 came in the form of two preseason scrimmages.

"The two preseason scrimmages went really well. Not necessarily from a win/loss standpoint or looking at the scoreboard, but it was good for us to play against other people," Walker said. "When you are trying to pack two months worth of practice into two weeks, you tend to get going, you are banging bodies with each other every day. There comes a point in time that you just need to play somebody else. I was really pleased with how the guys responded to playing somebody else. They played really hard and really physical and gave us a lot of optimism for the upcoming season.

The Lions also face a unique opportunity this year with the number of new contributors who will step up and play important roles for A&M-Commerce.

"The team has come together in the preseason better than most. I think our locker room has a cohesiveness early on that is probably similar to the one we had a couple years ago when we won the conference," Walker said. "It is similar to some of the good teams we have had in the past. As much as you work to try to create that type of environment, that usually comes with the quality of people that you have. I think we have enough good people in our locker room that want to work together and be successful that it makes it easy to develop that type of environment."

Walker is optimistic about his team this season, especially considering the Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll had the Lions picked fifth even with the new faces in key positions.

"I think we play with a lot of energy. I'm very pleased with our forwards and our big men. I think our guard play has made us a fun team to watch and a fun team to coach," Walker stated. "I think we share the basketball without being asked to—a lot more than some of our past teams. We have guys that make good decisions and enjoy watching other people have success. That kind of lends to some competitive but some good practices from the standpoint of just building a team and trying to get a lot done in a short amount of time. This team has made it very easy to get a lot of stuff in really early."

Even with the optimism of the Lions' cohesiveness and teamwork, the opening weekend against Oklahoma Christian and Newman does present the factor of the unknown.

"That's the big question. I don't know what to expect. I'll tell you what I hope. I hope that we keep a level of consistency that we have had in our practice sessions the past three weeks and within our scrimmages," Walker noted. "If we have that, we will give ourselves a chance to be successful. When the lights turn on and the scoreboard is on, you find out what you have. Until you play that first game, you really don't know what you have because it has all been practice games or practices. We have talked a lot about consistency and how we come out and play everyday. We want that to be the way we play every time we step on the floor. I think if that happens, we will give ourselves a good chance. But we have to see ourselves in a game."

The first chances at those real-time game situations comes this weekend as the Lions host the Oklahoma Christian Eagles and the Newman Jets. A&M-Commerce beat Oklahoma Christian on their home floor in this event last season, while falling to Newman in the second game.

"Oklahoma Christian is much improved. They have a new coaching staff and a lot of new players, the way we do. We have watched them on film and they are a good, solid basketball team. They will be right there in the hunt in the Heartland Conference," Walker said. "Newman is a program that has been at the top of the Heartland Conference year in and year out. It's two good opponents. Us and Cameron are also two good opponents. It's going to be good games. Even the games we aren't playing in. I think it is going be a good tournament and a good learning experience. When you play at home, the only outcome you want is a win, especially early on in the season."