COMMERCE– The Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team will go on the road for the first time this season, starting Friday. The Lions will take part in a four-team tournament hosted by Tarleton State. They will face Emmanuel (Ga.) College on Friday and Colorado State-Pueblo on Saturday.

GAME ONE
WHO: A&M-Commerce vs. Emmanuel College
WHEN: Friday, November 25 at 5 p.m.
WHERE: The Wisdom Gym in Stephenville, Texas
LIVE STATS: http://statb.us/b/150818

GAME TWO
WHO: A&M-Commerce vs. Colorado State-Pueblo
WHEN: Saturday, November 26 at 5 p.m.
WHERE: The Wisdom Gym in Stephenville, Texas
LIVE STATS: http://statb.us/b/150819
 
The Lions are coming off of a win Tuesday night over Southern Arkansas. With the holiday weekend upon them, head coach Sam Walker is confident his team will not be distracted by the holiday and will come with the same work ethic they have always shown.
 
"These guys have been playing basketball since they have been in junior high," he said. "You practice during the holidays and you play during the holidays. Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are something that these guys have never really had an opportunity to have. Since they have been in ninth grade, they probably have been in Thanksgiving tournaments every year. This is no different. We will enjoy our holiday but we will also enjoy the opportunity to get out and play during that time."

Walker looks forward to seeing his team match up with other top teams to see where they stack up. What he sees after this weekend will tell him where his team is and what they need to work on to be a contender in the Lone Star Conference and the NCAA playoffs down the line.

"We will play two good teams there in Stephenville," he said. "At a certain point you have to start playing the really good teams and get a feel of who you are and where you are. I think we are still a long way away from the good, consistent play that championship teams play with."
 
Walker likes the tournament atmosphere and the ability it gives his team to play multiple games in a short time period. He doesn't see fatigue as a factor in back-to-back games.

"We are not going to play Friday and not be able to turn around the next night and not have a good, solid game," he said. "I think this time of year you want to play as many games as you can. I don't think it's any different than playing a Thursday-Saturday. The turnaround is not bad."
 
He likes the tournament atmosphere that his team will take part in over the weekend. It is a way to keep up with other conference teams and to work on themselves.
 
"Everybody does it," Walker said. "We play an opening tournament just like everybody else. We are playing a Thanksgiving tournament just like most everyone else. It's part of it. Guys are used to doing it."
 
Walker sees this time as a time to grow. With the conference schedule fast approaching, he wants his team to be able to work out the kinks before the all-important conference schedule.
 
"At this time of year, it's about you," he said. "You are trying to get your stuff in. The scouting reports aren't as important if you can't remember your own plays. It's about us and what we do. We have to get better at what we do before we start worrying about other opponents."