COMMERCE – After a tightly played contest was forced into overtime, the Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball turned up the heat to earn a 77-63 win over visiting UT Tyler in the Field House on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Lions outscored the Patriots 16-2 in the overtime period without allowing a field goal to UTT. The win snaps a three-game losing skid and moves the Lions to 14-8 overall and 10-6 in the Lone Star Conference, while UT Tyler is now 6-15 overall and 3-13 in the LSC. A&M-Commerce has a perfect 6-0 mark in divisional play and has the potential to clinch the divisional championship with a pair of wins next week.

A&M-Commerce's next action comes on Thursday at Midwestern State with a 7:30 p.m. tipoff in Wichita Falls.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Alberto Moreno (Ingenio, Gran Canaria) scored a career-high 23 points, making 5-of-7 three-point attempts.
- Deonta Terrell (Chicago, Ill.) scored 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting and passed out five assists.
- Wayne Stewart (Philadelphia, Pa.) notched his fifth double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
- The Lions hit 48.3 percent (29-of-60) of their shots from the field, including 6-of-9 in the overtime period.
- A&M-Commerce had a 36-27 rebounding advantage.
 
COACH JARET von ROSENBERG AFTER THE GAME

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lions jumped out quickly, rushing to a 10-2 lead on the strength of two Moreno three-pointers, a Stewart jumper, and a layup by Leo Lara (Santa Rosa) in the opening four minutes. A&M-Commerce's shooing cooled off though, as the home side missed eight consecutive shots. The Patriots were able to use that cold period and come back, tying the game at 17-all with 6:22 to go after a nine-point run.
 
A&M-Commerce responded by making six of its final seven shots in the first half. Terrell had a personal seven-point run for the Lions, and Isaiah Wiggins (Harlem, N.Y.) and Austin Grandstaff (Rockwall) closed the half with three-pointers. The Lions took a 32-25 lead into the dressing room at halftime.
 
The teams played fairly evenly through the early stages of the second half before a seven-point uninterrupted rally by UT Tyler cut the lead to two points. UTT made five of seven shots in the middle of the half, and a floating jumper by Bradley Mason tied the game at 52-all with 7:11 to play.
 
The Lions made only two field goals in the final seven minutes of action, but they were both crucial. UT Tyler had gone ahead 59-56 with just under three minutes to play in regulation, but Moreno immediately answered with a three-pointer to tie the game. He also tied the game at 61-all with a pair of free throws in the final minute.
 
The Lions had two looks at the basket in the final seconds, but could not convert and the game headed to overtime.
 
In the extra period, A&M-Commerce shot 6-of-9 from the floor and ramped up the defensive effort. With the lead growing, the Lions did not allow UT Tyler to attempt a two-point basket, and the guests' only points came on a pair of free throws. Moreno drained his final three-pointer of the night from NBA range in the waning moments, claiming his career high.