DENVER– The Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team lost 76-69 to Metro State in overtime on Saturday. The Lions trailed by as many as eight in the second half but forced overtime only to fall behind in extra time.
 
The loss brings the Lions to 5-2 on the season while Metro State improves to 1-2 on the year.
 
The Lions return to action on Thursday in their first Lone Star Conference game of the season. The Lions will host Angelo State at 11 a.m. as part of Education Day, presented by Alliance Bank. Tickets for the doubleheader are available at WeAreLionsTix.com, by calling (903) 468-8756 or by visiting the Lion Sales & Service Box Office in the Field House. The Lion Women's Basketball team will also play Angelo State on Thursday at 1 p.m.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Tyree Robinson (Fall River, Mass.) led the Lions with 15 points, shooting 7-of-9 from the field. He also had five rebounds.
- Trey Conrod (Kilgore) had 14 points and led the team with seven rebounds.
- Reggie Reid (Harlem, Ga.) and Willie Rooks (Houston – North Forest) both had 13 points.
- Both teams shot 44 percent in the game. Metro State got to the free throw line 26 times, including 12 times in overtine.
- There were 11 ties and 19 lead changes in the game.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a back and forth battle early as the lead changed hands several times in the opening minutes. After five minutes, the teams were tied at seven. The Lions then took a lead before Metro scored went on a 5-0 run to take a lead. Midway through the half, the Lions trailed 15-13.
 
The teams went scoreless for several minutes as both teams played good defense. The Roadrunners then pushed their lead to six points, the largest of the half. The Lions then went on a 7-0 run to regain the lead, including a three-point play from Tyree Robinson. The lead changed hands several times in the final minutes as both teams battled. Metro State led 32-31 at halftime.
 
The Lions started the second half on a cold streak as Metro State pushed its lead to eight points, the largest lead for either team in the game. The Lions were held without a bucket for more than four minutes. Rooks then caught the hot hand, scoring five points in a row to get the Lions right back into the game. A Robinson layup brought the score to 43-all with 10 minutes left in the half.
 
A three from Reid with eight minutes to go gave the Lions the lead once again as the teams continued to battle. With five minutes left, A&M-Commerce led 50-49. Metro State took the lead again as the teams continued to exchange the lead. Reid then hit a three to give the Lions a 55-54 lead with two minutes to play.
 
The Roadrunners regained the lead with 53 seconds left and had the ball. The Lion defense played tough and drew an offensive foul but their next possession could not find a basket. The Lions were forced to foul. Metro State made both free throws to take a three-point lead with 25 seconds left.
 
The Lions played the odds, hitting a two pointer and fouling again. The Roadrunners made one of two and the Lions had one final chance. Driving down, Srdan Budimir found Conrod who nailed the shot to tie the game and send it into overtime tied at 59.
 
The teams traded buckets early in the overtime before Metro State scored six points in a row to take a 67-61 lead. The Lions began to run out of time and had to foul to extend the game but Metro State made its free throws and left with the overtime win.