COMMERCE – For the second game in a row, the Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team led wire-to-wire in the Field House. The Lions downed UT Tyler 71-56 on Tuesday night for their second win in a row.
 
Four of five starters reached double digits in scoring for the Lions, who improve to 12-3 on the season and 4-2 in Lone Star Conference games. The Patriots lost their fifth straight meeting against the Lions and drop to 10-4 overall and 2-3 in LSC play. They have not beaten the Lions since they moved up to Division II.  
 
Augustine Ene (Carrollton – Creekview) started the scoring with a three pointer and Alphonso Willis followed with a layup to lead 5-0. Ene scored nine of the team's 11 points and had 18 points on 6 for 8 shooting and three rebounds in the game. Willis scored 13 points, while recording two steals and two assists.
 
The Lions' largest lead of the first half came on a layup from Khaliq Abdul-Mateen (Cy-Lakes), which gave the Lions a 34-25 lead. The Lions shot 48 percent in the first half and made six three pointers to lead 34-27.
 
Abdul-Mateen, making his first start of the season, knocked down a three pointer to give the Lions a 10-point lead to start the second half. Carius Key (Irving-MacArthur) gave the Lions a 21-point lead with five minutes, their largest of the game. Abdul-Mateen had six points and five rebounds. Key totaled four points.
 
A&M-Commerce went on a 13-3 run, while shooting 9 for 11 from the field in the second half to take the 21-point lead. UT Tyler was held to shoot 33 percent in the second half, while the Lions shot 57 percent from the field and 46 percent from beyond-the-arc in the second half.
 
Demarcus Demonia (Fort Washington, Md.) was held scoreless in the first half. He responded by scoring 10 in the second half and totaled five assists and four rebounds in the game. Clashon Gaffney (Clarksville) went a perfect 5 for 5 from the field and 3 for 3 from the line for 13 points and also grabbed six rebounds.
 
After missing the last two games, Carson Tuttle (Mukilteo, Wash.) returned to the floor and scored three points as well as one rebound, one assist, and one steal. Leo Lara (Santa Rosa) made a three pointer and knocked down a free throw, while grabbing two rebounds.
 
The Lions have made 29 three pointers in the last two games and shot above 50 percent from the field in both games. They outscored the Patriots, 28-26 in the paint, and 15-10 in points off turnovers.


POSTGAME INTERVIEW
 
UP NEXT
A&M-Commerce heads on the road for a quick trip to Western New Mexico. The Lions take on the Mustangs on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. central standard time. They return home next weekend for two games.