DALLAS – Holding the Dallas Baptist Patriots to just three points in the last three minutes of Thursday night's game, the Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team remains undefeated with a 72-70 win at the Burg Center.
 
The Lions trailed for over 34 minutes and did not take their first lead of the game until the 13:10 mark of the second half on a layup by Carson Tuttle (Mukilteo, Wash.). The lead was short-lived as the Patriots quickly went back up by five. Their largest lead in the game was 10 points, which came in the first half.
 
Trailing 67-65 with three minutes to go, the Lions tied it on a layup by Alphonso Willis (Atlanta, Ga.) and took a three-point lead on an and-one by Demarcus Demonia (Fort Washington, Md.).
 
Alex Peavy (San Antonio – Smithson Valley) knocked down a wide-open layup to put the Lions up by five with 22 seconds to go, their largest lead of the night. Following timeouts called by both coaches, the Patriots' Austin Garner drilled a three pointer with five seconds to go.
 
After the Lions missed the first end of a 1 and 1, DBU grabbed the defensive rebound and had a chance to win with three seconds to go. The Patriots' inbound pass following a timeout was picked off by Willis and he dribbled it out to clinch the win.
 
The Lions' 5-0 start is their best since the first season of coach Jaret von Rosenberg, who is now in his fifth season at the helm of the program. The Patriots fall to 5-3 on the season. Thursday's game does not affect the Lone Star Conference standings, but the two teams will meet again in a couple of weeks in the Field House on January 2 during the first weekend of conference play.
 
A&M-Commerce fell in a 20-10 hole in the first half, but chipped away at the lead, and tied it at 35-35 on four straight points by Augustine Ene (Carrollton – Creekview), who had team-high 17 points and also three rebounds. The Patriots responded with a layup to take a 37-35 lead at halftime.
 
All five starters for the Lions scored in double digits. Clashon Gaffney (Clarksville) scored 10 points along with a block and two rebounds. Tuttle also scored 10 points, he recorded four rebounds and four assists as well.
 
Demonia shot 4 for 5 from the field for 11 points and grabbed team-high seven rebounds. He also had two assists. Willis had 10 points, three steals, six rebounds, and a blocked shot.
 
Peavy and Khaliq Abdul-Mateen (Cy Lakes) provided valuable minutes off the bench, particularly on the defensive side of the court. Abdul-Mateen had two steals, four rebounds, and scored five points. Peavy tallied nine points, five rebounds, and an assist.
 
The Lions narrowly outshot the Patriots 46.7 percent to 45.9 percent. DBU missed six of its eight free throw attempts, while the Lions made nine of their 15. William Heather behind 7 for 9 shooting, scored game-high 19 points for the Patriots. Three players had six rebounds each for DBU.



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A&M-Commerce has a quick turnaround facing two opponents at home over a stretch of three days. The Lions host Oklahoma Christian on Saturday at 4 p.m. and welcome Seattle Pacific to the Lone Star state on Monday at 6 p.m.