COMMERCE – In a game that saw 23 lead changes and 10 ties, the Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team prevailed 94-83 over the Harding Bisons at the Field House during Education Day presented by Alliance Bank. The Lions outscored the Bisons, 62-50, in the second half on Monday afternoon.
 
For the second time under fifth year coach Jaret von Rosenberg, the Lions are 4-0 to start the season. Harding falls to 3-5 on the season.
 
Clashon Gaffney (Clarksville) stuffed the stat sheet with 19 points, six rebounds, five blocks, two steals, and two assists. The senior center shot 9 for 12 from the field. He has had four blocks or more in every game this season and entered the week leading the country with 4.7 blocks per game. The Lions entered the day leading the country in blocked shots per game and had 11 on Monday afternoon.
 
Alongside Gaffney, four starters scored in double digits. A&M-Commerce also received 27 points off the bench.
 
Both teams battled in the first half, with neither team leading by more than three points in the first 20 minutes. There were 18 lead changes in the first half. The Bisons took a 33-32 lead at halftime but did not lead again until the 15:18 mark of the second half.
 
Alphonso Willis (Atlanta, Ga.) made a layup to start the second half and Carson Tuttle (Mukilteo, Wash.) followed with a jumper to give the Lions a three-point lead. Willis tied Gaffney with team-leading six rebounds, while scoring nine points and handing out five assists. Tuttle led the team with seven assists on his way to scoring 13 points and grabbing five rebounds as well as recording two steals.
 
With the game tied at 55 at the 10:44 mark, Alex Peavy (San Antonio – Smithson Valley) scored five points in a row, Augustine Ene (Carrollton – Creekview) made a three pointer, and Gaffney dunked in an alley oop from Ene to spark a 10-0 run. A&M-Commerce did not trail from that point of the game.
 
Jairus Roberson (DeSoto) scored 18 points off the bench, he has reached double digits in scoring in all four games. He shot 6 for 11 from the field and knocked down a three pointer with 4:01 left in the game to give the Lions an 82-67 lead, their largest of the game. Roberson also recorded three rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
 
A&M-Commerce made 17 of their 24 free throw attempts, including all six by Tuttle down the stretch. In the second half, the Lions shot 61.8 percent from the field and 58.3 percent from outside the three-point arc.
 
Peavy recorded three blocks as well as three rebounds and scored seven points. Ene had 12 points on 4 for 8 shooting from beyond the three point line. Demarcus Demonia (Fort Washington, Md.) tallied 14 points and six rebounds.
 
The Bisons were led by Taylor Currie, who scored 24 points on 11 for 13 shooting from the field. Stetson Smithson had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.


POSTGAME INTERVIEW
 
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A&M-Commerce takes on two Lone Star Conference teams the rest of this week, but neither affects the conference standings. The Lions are at DBU on Thursday at 7 p.m. and host Oklahoma Christian on Saturday at 4 p.m.