MOBILE, Ala. – Battling the South Alabama Jaguars to the final second of Monday's night game at the Mitchell Center, the Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team fell 69-66 in the exhibition affair for the Lions.
 
A&M-Commerce had the lead for 31 minutes and 28 seconds. They scored the first points of the game, and the Jaguars did not tie it again until the 8:35 mark of the second half.
 
Down two points after two made free throws by Augustin Ene (Carrollton – Creekview) at the 3:49 mark, the Jaguars scored eight straight points to take a 69-63 lead with 29 seconds left. A three pointer by Jairus Roberson (DeSoto) brought the Lions to within three with 13 seconds to go.
 
The Jaguars missed all four free throws down the stretch, but the Lions could not get the equalizer through the net.
 
Monday's game does not the season record or statistics for the Lions, they are still 3-0 on the season, but does count for the Jaguars, who are 6-3.
 
The Lions held the Jaguars to just one made field goal through the first 12 minutes and 32 seconds and held them to a field goal percentage as low as eight percent in the half. Alphonso Willis (Altanta, Ga.) had 11 points in the half as well as six rebounds.
 
A&M-Commerce's led throughout the first half and its biggest lead of 15 points came with 1:43 left in the half on a jumper by Demarcus Demonia (Fort Washington, Md.). The Jaguars held the Lions scoreless for the rest of the half and cut their deficit to seven points at halftime by going on an 8-0 run, making all their field goal and free throw attempts during that stretch.
 
The run continued for the Jaguars in the second half, scoring the first points of the half to cut it to five. On the other end, Augustine Ene (Carrollton – Creekview) and Clashon Gaffney (Clarksville) brought the lead back up to nine behind back-to-back layups.
 
Gaffney, who leads NCAA Division II with 4.7 blocks per game, picked up his fourth foul of the game at the 17:05 mark of the second half. The Lions pushed the lead back up to 10 twice in the half, but a 10-0 run in the middle of the half gave the Jaguars their first lead of the game. Charles Manning Jr. led the Jaguars with 20 points.
 
Roberson had a 5-0 run on his own to tie it back up at 58 and the Lions retook the lead on the two free throws by Ene, which was their only lead in the final seven minutes of the game.
 
Checking into the game off the bench, Roberson led the Lions with 19 points. Willis scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Demonia was the team's leading rebounder with eight and also scored eight points.
 
Carson Tuttle (Mukilteo, Wash.) was also in foul trouble with three early fouls. He dished out four assists, while also grabbing five rebounds. Ene scored nine points. Gaffney grabbed three rebounds and scored four points.
 
Along with Roberson, Khaliq Abdul-Mateen (Cy-Lakes) had eight points, Alex Peavy (San Antonio – Smithson Valley) had two points. Leo Lara (Santa Rosa) grabbed a rebound.



POSTGAME INTERVIEW
 
UP NEXT
A&M-Commerce resumes competition against Division II competition next Monday, December 6 at 2:30 p.m. The Lions host Harding as part of Education Day presented by Alliance Bank.