COMMERCE– The No. 18 Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team returns to action after a 16-day break. The Lions host Texas A&M University-Kingsville on Thursday and Angelo State on Saturday in two Lone Star Conference matchups.
 
A&M-Kingsville
WHO: Texas A&M-Commerce (11-1, 4-0 LSC) vs. A&M-Kingsville (9-4, 2-1 LSC)
WHERE: The Field House in Commerce, Texas
WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 4 at 7:30 p.m.
LIVE STATS: Click HERE
LIVE VIDEO: portal.stretchinternet.com/tamucommerce/
TICKETS: Click HERE
 
Angelo State
WHO: Texas A&M-Commerce vs. Angelo State (10-2, 2-1 LSC)
WHERE: The Field House in Commerce, Texas
WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 6 at 4 p.m.
LIVE STATS: Click HERE
LIVE VIDEO: portal.stretchinternet.com/tamucommerce/
TICKETS: Click HERE
 
The Lions are coming off of a long break, having last played on Dec. 19. Head coach Jaret von Rosenberg said it allowed his team to get healthy for the second half of the season.
 
"We had some guys playing a lot of minutes and had a lot of guys banged up in the fall semester," he said. "From that standpoint, it was good to get guys back totally 100 percent healthy. It is always good for guys to go home and recharge with family and friends. We got back here and are ready to get back to work and are looking forward to the rest of the season.
 
While some might worry about breaking up the early season momentum with such a long break, von Rosenberg knows the rest now can also reap benefits later in the season.
 
"We were playing well. But it is a long season," he said. "You need those breaks and it is built into Division II to where you have that break. Hopefully it benefits us in March, not necessarily right now."
 
The Lions are now ranked No. 18 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches' most recent poll. With so much turnover with a new head coach and so many new players, von Rosenberg was quick to give credit to former head coach Sam Walker, as well as the players he and his coaching staff have brought in.
 
"I give a lot of credit to Coach Walker and what he has done to set a foundation for this to be possible," von Rosenberg said. "Everything was in place, from the academic side to the recruiting side and facilities. Everything has been in place for us to be successful from the start. But you have to give a lot of credit to the players that have bought into what we are trying to do and the coaching staff. Those guys deserve all the credit, not necessarily me. I'm the one that stands up during the game but there are a lot of people behind the scenes who have gotten a lot of things done to make this possible."
 
The Lions now face a tough test with two LSC teams coming in. A&M-Kingsville has lost three games in a row, but all have been close finishes. The Javelinas started their season with eight wins in a row and are looking to get back on track. The Lions will then face an Angelo State team that has won four in a row.
 
"We just got out of practice and I told our guys, there is not a game on our schedule where, if we don't play well, we should expect to win," von Rosenberg said. "We are fighting for execution, effort and energy and trying to execute the game plan. We have a lot of leadership and guys who have been in a lot of battles. I think they understand the importance and understand that we have to play well. That is what it comes down to."
 
Although his team will be in the friendly confines of the Field House for these two games, von Rosenberg knows it will still take a 40-minute effort in both games for his team to win.
 
"When you talk about how tough this home stand is going to be, all we can focus on is being ready to play when the ball tips and try to find a way to win in those last four minutes to give ourselves a chance to win," he said.