COMMERCE– The Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team rallied from a large second half deficit to get within one possession in the final seconds, but ultimately fell 77-73 to Tarleton State University in Wisdom Gym on Tuesday night.
 
The Lions complete a stretch of five road games in 12 days – including the Lions' two longest LSC weekend road trips – with a record of 18-7 overall and 10-6 in the Lone Star Conference. Tarleton is now 16-9 overall and 11-5 in LSC play.
 
A&M-Commerce returns to action a week from Thursday on February 24 at 7:30 p.m. against West Texas A&M. For more information and tickets to the game, contact the Lion Sales and Service Box Office at (903) 468-8756.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Lions trailed by as many as 23 points before rallying back to within one possession in the final seconds.
- A&M-Commerce made 48.3 percent of its shots from the floor (29-of-60) in the game, including 6-of-19 (31.6 percent) from long range.
- The Lions shot 62.5 percent (20-of-32) in the second half.
- The Lions went to the free throw line 10 times, making nine.
- Tarleton shot 50.0 percent (26-of-52) in the game, made 10-of-26 (38.5 percent) of its three-point shots, and made 15-of-23 (65.2 percent) of its free throws.
- Four Lions scored in double figures, led by 15 points from Joseph Williams-Powell, who also had five rebounds.
- Willie Rooks scored 14 points, including four three-pointers.
- Reggie Reid scored 12 points with seven assists and five rebounds.
- Aaron Horne scored 10 points and pulled down six rebounds.
- Daquane Willford scored nine points and pulled down five rebounds.
- The Lions had a 33-30 rebounding edge over the Texans.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Texans opened the scoring with a pair of inside baskets before Rooks drained a long three-pointer to open the Lion account. Tarleton continued to score from the inside while the Lion post duo of Williams-Powell and Dorian Armstrong scored in the paint.
 
A&M-Commerce trailed by four points with 13 minutes remaining when the Tarleton outside aerial attack began. Six consecutive Texan scores came from behind the arc and an 18-point run for the hosts had TSU up 36-15 with 3:13 to go.
 
The Lions were not deterred despite a five-minute scoreless streak. Willford converted five points and Reid scored a layup. Williams-Powell's last-second layup made it a 41-24 margin at the break.
 
The Lions shot 32.1 percent in the opening 20 minutes, making 9-of-28 shots. Tarleton made seven three-pointers in their 16-of-31 (51.6 percent) first half shooting rate. Tarleton also had a 19-15 edge on the boards.
 
Tarleton netted 10 points in the opening 3:30 of the second half to stretch its lead to a game-high 23 points before the Lions charged back.
 
Rooks canned consecutive triples to kick start a 13-0 Lion rally. Willford's layup at the 13:08 mark cut the lead to 10 points at 51-41 with 13:08 left on the clock. Tarleton would be able to extend its lead back out to as many as 18 points with 8:35 to go, but the Lions would not go away.
 
A 14-5 Lion surge included four Williams-Powell baskets and a Conrod layup with 1:47 to go got the Lions back to within single digits at 69-60. With one minute to play, the Texans led 73-63.
 
Reid nailed a free throw and Horne put in a layup with just under 30 seconds left to make it 74-68 – only two possessions down. Srdan Budimir was fouled on a three-pointer attempt to cut the lead to four points after a TSU free throw. Willford tipped in a bucket with just under eight seconds left to cut the lead to 75-73 and the Lions forced a turnover in the corner, giving A&M-Commerce a chance to tie or win in the final seconds.
 
Unfortunately for the Lions, the inbounds play was unable to convert and they were forced to foul. Tarleton made two late free throws and the Lions' desperation heave at the buzzer was unable to convert.