COMMERCE– The No. 25 Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team defeated UT Permian Basin 85-78 on Saturday afternoon. In a game that featured 14 ties and 13 lead changes, the Lions were able to pull ahead in the final minutes of the game to get the win. The game was part of Alumni Day on campus.
 
The win brings the Lions to 15-4 on the season and 7-2 in the Lone Star Conference. The Falcons fall to 10-9 and 3-6 in conference play.
 
The Lions return to action on Thursday on the road against Texas A&M-Kingsville. The game will be played at 7:30 p.m. at the Steinke Center in Kingsville.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Reggie Reid (Harlem, Ga.) led the Lions with 23 points and also had six rebounds to go with his team-high seven assists. Reid hit six threes in the game, playing all 40 minutes.
- Willie Rooks (Houston - North Forest) had 19 points for the Lions and pulled in seven rebounds. Rooks had five threes and four assists and paced the Lion defense with three steals.
- Trey Conrod (Kilgore) had 16 points and five assists while Srdan Budimir (Karadjordjevo, Serbia) scored 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting, and electrified the crowd late in the game with multiple hustle plays. 
- The Lions shot 44 percent from the field in the game and made 38 percent of their three-pointers (15-for-40). UTPB shot 52 percent in the game.
- The Lions also shot an impressive 85 percent from the free throw line (12-of-14).
- There were 28 ties and 13 lead changes in the game. The Lions took the lead for good with seven minutes left in the game.
 
HEAD COACH JARET VON ROSENBERG AFTER THE GAME
- On the team's hard-fought win: "They gave us everything we could handle. They are a good team and they gave us some problems. They were switching defenses on us a few times. We just made sure we didn't stand and stare at what they were doing. It was a strong second half. I was most excited to see that we had 22 assists on 29 field goals. That means the ball was moving and guys were finding each other. That was exciting."
- On the team's ability to close out the game: "They were face-guarding Reggie and Willie there at the end and we had other guys step up and make plays. Serge [Budimir] made plays, Deonta [Terrell] made plays, Trey [Conrod] made some plays. That's when we are good, when we have multiple guys in double figures and when we are sharing the basketball. It was exciting to see."
- On the team's three-point barrage: "They were packing in the zone and we had to make them. I thought we took good looks. We got good shots and guys stepped up to hit shots."
- On the team's upcoming road trip: "We have to keep working. I still think we can continue to get better and continue to trust each other and trust what we are doing. Hopefully we will do that."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The lead changed hands early and often as both teams came out firing. The Lions took their first lead of the game in the second minute of action on a three from Reid. The Falcons countered with a 5-0 run to take a four-point lead before the Lions responded with consecutive threes. The lead change several times again as midway through the half, the teams were tied at 17.
 
The Falcons took the lead and held it for the next several minutes, although both teams continued to trade shots. UTPB brought its lead to five points before the Lions made a late run to regain the lead. With two minutes left, the game was tied at 35. UTPB took a slim 39-37 lead into the half.
 
There were eight lead changes and seven ties in the half. Reid led the Lions with 15 points, with all of his points coming from behind the arc. Conrod added seven points and Rooks had six. The Lions shot 38 percent from three in the first half. UTPB shot 48 percent from the field. The Lions had just six points in the paint while UTPB had 20.
 
The Lions tied the game again right out of the gate. The Falcons then scored twice in a row before the Lions went on a 7-0 run to regain the lead, including consecutive shots from Budimir. The Falcons responded with an 8-0 run to regain the lead and go up by five, their largest lead of the game.
 
As quickly as UTPB gained the lead, the Lions took it back. Rooks found his stroke, hitting two threes as the Lions took the lead back. Over the next several minutes, the lead changed hands like a hot potato. It was not until the 7:15 mark of the half that the Lions took the lead and did not give it back.
 
Both teams continued to battle as the Lions slowly built their lead to seven points at the five minute mark. The Falcons battled back to cut the lead to four before the Lions took their largest lead of the game, a nine-point advantage. The Lion defense shut down the Falcons late and the Lions hit their free throws to secure the victory.