COMMERCE – Clashon Gaffney scored 20 points on the offensive end and blocked five shots on the defensive end to aid the Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team in its 72-65 win over the Mississippi College Choctaws in the opening game of Lion Hoopsgiving presented by Best Western Plus at the Field House on Friday evening.
 
Playing hosts to a tournament for the first time since 2016-17, the Lions are 2-0 to start the season, while the Choctaws fall to 2-2. The Lions are off to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2018-19.
 
The Choctaws' largest lead was four points at multiple points in the first half. The Lions led by three points at the start of the half on a three pointer by Augustine Ene (Carrollton – Creekview) and towards the end of the half on a jumper by Gaffney (Clarksville).
 
Trailing by two with three seconds to go in the half, the Choctaws' Brandon Boston knocked down both free throws to tie at 31. Tradavis Thompson led Mississippi College with 17 points, while Boston had six rebounds. Four Choctaws reached double digit in scoring.
 
A three pointer by Ene at the 18:20 mark of the second half gave the Lions' a 37-32 lead, their largest of the game up to that point. The largest lead of the game for the Lions came at the 12:08 mark on a free throw by Demarcus Demonia (Fort Washington, Md.), they did not trail in the second half. Demonia had a double double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, he also led the team with five assists.
 
Both teams shot above 45 percent, with the Choctaws outshooting the Lions, 48.1 percent to 46.8 percent, respectively. Mississippi College made 7 of its 14 three point attempts, while A&M-Commerce made 6 of its 19 attempts. The Lions had 30 free throw attempts and made 22 of them, while the Choctaws shot 8 for 15 from the line.
 
Gaffney shot 6 for 10 from the field and 8 for 10 from the free throw line for his 20 points. He also had four rebounds, two assists, and one steal to go along with his five blocks, which are the most by a Lion since 2019-20.
 
Ene made three three pointers as well as five free throws for 14 points. He grabbed two rebounds and dished out two assists. Alphonso Willis (Atlanta, Ga.) had nine points, three assists, six rebounds. Jairus Roberson (DeSoto) had 10 points off the bench. Carson Tuttle (Mukilteo, Wash.) scored eight points and grabbed three rebounds, while dishing out three assists.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions are in the midst of a stretch of three games in four days, hosting Ouachita Baptist on Saturday at approximately 2:30 p.m. at the Field House to close out the men's side of Lion Hoopsgiving presented by Best Western Plus.