COMMERCE— The Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team defeated Oklahoma Christian 82-69 on Saturday afternoon. After a close contest for the majority of the game, the Lions closed out the final four minutes on a flourish, picking up the win.
 
The win brings the Lions to 12-5 on the season and 8-3 in the Lone Star Conference. The Eagles fall to 5-10 on the season and 4-7 in league play.
 
The Lions return to the court on Thursday as they travel to Silver City to face Western New Mexico. The game will be played at 8:30 p.m. CST at Drag's Court. The Lions will then face UT Permian Basin on Saturday at 4 p.m.
 
HEAD COACH JARET von ROSENBERG AFTER THE GAME
Thoughts on the game: "I thought we did an unbelievable job on the scouting report. Their five guys are tough to handle and we did a nice job of limiting them. We got contributions all around. I think everyone that played got a rebound. You have to gang rebound against this team. And then we shared the ball and shot the cover off of it, especially in the second half."
On the three-point shooting: "This is why we can be tough to guard. Pretty much everyone that played hit a three. When you are sharing the ball like we did, with 21 assists, there are a lot of positives from this stat sheet."
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Wayne Stewart (Philadelphia, Pa.) was the Lions' leading scorer once again, netting 22 points, scoring 7-of-9 from the field. He also had a double-double with 14 rebounds.
- Darnell Wright (Chicago, Ill.) added 16 points and six rebounds. Deon Barrett (Dallas - Lancaster) also scored in double figures with 10 points and a team-high six assists.
- The Lions shot 53 percent from the field in the game, and 47 percent from beyond the arc, netting 14 threes in the game.
- There were seven ties and eight lead changes in the game. The Lions took the lead for good with seven minutes remaining in the game.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lions started the game on a 5-0 run as OCU was held scoreless for the first four minutes of the game. Both teams started the game cold from the field, as they each struggled from the field early. OCU took a 9-8 lead as they hit consecutive shots, before the Lions hit a pair of shots of their own to regain the lead at the midway mark of the half.

The teams began to trade buckets as the close score continued for multiple minutes. A 4-0 run by OCU was matched by the Lions, as the lead changed hands several times down the stretch. Stewart had a windmill dunk and also hit a late three to give the Lions the lead once again. The Lions hit two late threes and took a 32-28 lead into halftime.
 
Stewart led the way for A&M-Commerce with 10 points and eight rebounds. Wright added eight points. The Lions assisted on nine of their 13 baskets.
 
In stark contrast to the first half, the teams both came out on fire to start the second half. Both teams made their first three field goals. The Lions went on a scoring run that gave them a nine point lead after two minutes of play. The Eagles clawed their way back, cutting the Lion lead down to just one point over the next four minutes. However, the Lions again answered, hitting multiple threes to again push their lead near double figures. The Lions held a 58-50 lead midway through the half.
 
OCU then went on an 8-0 run to the game at 58-all at the nine minute mark. OCU would then gain its first lead of the half at the eight minute mark. The Lions then went on an 8-0 run to take a 69-62 lead with four minutes left. The Lions were forced to convert from the foul line in the close the game and delivered, pushing their lead to double figures in the final minute.