COMMERCE— The Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team will host Western New Mexico on Thursday. The Lions defeated the Mustangs 91-63 in December and are looking for the season sweep as they play the first of five consecutive home games.
The game is part of the Night of Champions and is a Blue Out. Fans are encouraged to wear blue to the game.
WHO: Texas A&M-Commerce (15-5, 7-4 LSC) vs. Western New Mexico (2-17, 0-11 LSC)
WHERE: The Field House in Commerce, Texas
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 2 at 7:30 p.m.
LIVE STATS: http://statb.us/b/147045
LIVE VIDEO: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/tamucommerce/
LIVE AUDIO: www.ketr.org
TICKETS: http://lionathletics.com/sports/2016/11/18/2016-17-basketball-ticket-information.aspx
The Lions are coming off of a win against Cameron on Saturday. Head coach
Sam Walker was happy his team was able to play well in a tough environment in a tough conference.
"Winning on the road. I like those words," Walker said with a smile. "I like hearing that. This is a tough conference to win anywhere, much less on the road. Going on a road trip to Wichita Falls and Lawton, Oklahoma, not a lot of teams come out of there with a win. We are very fortunate that we got a win a win against Cameron, who is another regionally ranked team, along with us."
The Lions now return home for a five-game stretch. With seven games left to play, Walker feels fortunate that his team has five of them at home. However, he also knows it doesn't guarantee a victory.
"This time of year, we've just got to get wins whenever we play," he said. "We are very fortunate that we are where we are with as many games as we have had on the road. We have had a lot of success on the road. But playing at home doesn't mean you win games. It means you are in a comfort zone. At home, you still have to go out there and play the game. These are two very big games for us. All seven of them are big games. I know we have the type of guys that want to protect their home court."
A&M-Commerce now faces Western New Mexico on Thursday. The Lions defeated the Mustangs 91-63 in December, but Walker knows it will be a different ball game. He is a firm believer that past success doesn't dictate future success.
"You never get the same result the second time, no matter who you play," he said. "Whether it is the first place team or the last placed team, or someone in the middle. I hope we have the kind of mindset that it doesn't really matter who we play, we are going to protect our home court. We've got a long-term mission than just a game Thursday night. It's not just tonight. That long-term mission is to beat the next team on the schedule. It just happens to be Western New Mexico."
The game is part of the Blue Out and fans are encouraged to wear blue to the game. Walker hopes to have a large crowd at both the men's and women's basketball games, because he knows how much a fan base can affect the home team.
"Coming off of our last home game, being that West Texas game that was, No. 1, very exciting, but No. 2 there were a lot of people in the stands and a lot of supportive people in the stands," he said. "We are hoping we can grow off of that. When people come out and see our women play and the fellas, I think they are entertained pretty well. I think we play a good style of basketball and we invite everybody to come out to the Field House."
