Commerce, Texas – Tarleton State used a 12-1 run late in the first half, and pulled away in the second half of an 88-74 Texan win spoiling the A&M-Commerce Senior Day Saturday in the Lions' regular season finale in The Field House in a Lone Star Conference game.
 
Turning Point
- JR Owens drilled a triple to give the Lions a 24-23 lead with 7:12 left to play in the first half, but the Texans mounted a 12-1 over the next six minutes to take a 35-25 lead right before the half.  The 10-point advantage was more than enough over the final frame in the 88-74 win.
 
Highlights
- Prior to the game, the Lions honored their seven seniors: Jeremy Jones, Ronnie White, Bryant Crowder, Anthony Adams, Everrett Pleasant, Owens and fifth year senior Craig Fofang.
 
- Adams led the Lions with 15 points and five assists.
 
- White followed with 14 points after going 4-of-6 from the field and 6-of-7 from the free throw line.  White also hauled down seven rebounds.
 
- Jones chipped in 11 points highlighted by a 3-of-5 performance from long range, while Owens tallied 10 points.
 
- The Lions shot 47 percent from the floor, while the Texans when 49 percent overall. Tarleton State hit 10 of their 28 long-range attempts for 36 percent compared to the Lions six of 21 shooting performance from behind the arc for 29 percent.
 
- The Texans out rebounded the Lions 38 to 33. A&M-Commerce is 2-7 when losing the rebounding battle.
 
Inside the box score
- With the loss, the Lions have dropped five of their last six games heading into the Lone Star Conference Tournament. A&M-Commerce fell to 17-8 overall and 6-8 in the LSC to finish in sixth place. 
 
- Tarleton State has won 12 of the last 15 meetings in the series and close the gap in the LSC games on the Lions, 20-18.
 
- With his 15 points, Adams eclipsed the 700-point mark in his two seasons with the Lions. He has scored 324 points this season and accounted for 363 points in 2014-15 for 702 career points.
 
Summary
1st Half
- A&M-Commerce took the early lead holding a five-point advantage, 16-11, after a Crowder jumper with 14:12 left to play. 
 
- Over the next 13 minutes, Tarleton state used a 24-9 run including the 12-1 spurt that saw the Texans take a 35-25 lead with 1:13 left to play in the half.
 
- The Texans took a seven point lead, 37-30, into the locker room.
 
2nd Half
- Tarleton State came out of the break and quickly took the lead out to double figures before pushing the margin out to 16 points, 56-40, with 12:34 remaining.
 
- The Texans led by as many as 22 points, 79-57, with 4:43 left before cruising to the 14-point, 88-74, win over the Lions.
 
What's Next?
- The two teams will turn right back around and play in the first round of the Lone Star Conference Tournament in the Allen Event Center on Thursday, March 3 at 2:30 p.m.  The Lions are the defending LSC Tournament Champions after sweeping through championship in 2014-15.  A&M-Commerce enters the tournament as the No. 6 seed, while the Texans are the tournament's No. 3 seed.
 
- The women's team will also play Tarleton State Thursday March 3. The TexAnns and Lions will tipoff at 6 p.m. In-between games the A&M-Commerce Athletics Department will host the Lion Basketball Lone Star Celebration at Kelly's in the Village across from the Allen Event Center.
 
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