GREELEY, Colo. – Being down by 20 in the first half, the Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team fought all the way back to trail by just one in the final minute of Friday night's game in the Bank of Colorado Arena, but the Northern Colorado Bears hung on for the 80-77 win.
The Lions outscored the Bears, 49-34 in the second half, shooting 51.6 percent from the field. A&M-Commerce, who fell to 0-2 on the season, had a last-second shot to tie the game. Northern Colorado collected its first win of the season and is 1-1 on the season.
Up three with 12 seconds left, the Bears fouled the Lions on the floor to force two free throw attempts. The Lions made one of two with 7.8 seconds left to cut to within two once again, Northern Colorado made both free throws on the other end to go up by four.
Tommie Lewis (Vero Beach, Fla.) drilled a three pointer with one second left and the Lions were quickly able to foul. After Northern Colorado hit both free throws, the Lions had one last chance to tie the game, but the shot did not go in.
"It's disappointing to come out like we did in the the first six minutes of the game and dig our selves such a big hole," said coach
Jaret von Rosenberg. "With that being said, the toughness our group showed to give ourselves a chance to win in the last five minutes was very positive. We have to learn how to win and play for 40 minutes. That's our challenge and our guys will be ready to get better tomorrow."
The Bears jumped out to a 15-0 lead to start the game in the first 5:09 of the game. The Lions' first point of the game came at the line by
Demarcus Demonia (Fort Washington, Md.) at the 13:44 mark of the first half and the first field goal was a jumper from
Kalen Williams (Hephzibah, Ga.) at the 13:37 mark.
Alonzo Dodd (St. Paul, Minn.) went on a personal 6-0 run to cut the deficit into single digits with 5:14 left in the first half, 27-18. Northern Colorado increased the lead back up to 20 in the last minute of the first half and led 46-28 at halftime.
A three pointer as well as a jumper from Williams and a layup from Jerome Brewer, Jr. (Camden, N.J.) cut the margin down to 68-61 on the 7-0 run.
Following two free throws by the Bears with 3:51 left in the game to lead 73-63, the Lions responded with a 7-0 run to pull to within three. Demonia hit two free throws,
JJ Romer Rosario (Hialeah Gardens, Fla.) knocked down a three pointer, and Williams swished in a jumper.
The Bears were fouled on the other end and made both free throws to go up 75-70 with 1:57 left. CJ Roberts (Irving – Richland) converted an and-one opportunity 1:27 left to pull to within two. Both teams went scoreless for the next minute and NCU went up 76-73 with 12 seconds left, hitting one of two free throws.
von Rosenberg added, "Give Coach Steve Smiley and UNC a lot a credit. They are a very good basketball team that should contend for championship in the Big Sky."
Williams led the team with 13 points, shooting 6 for 8 from the field as well as grabbing one rebound, two assists, and one steal. Demonia totaled 12 points, three rebounds, two steals, one block, and one assist. Romer Rosario shot 4 for 6, including two three pointers for 10 points, three rebounds, and one steal.
Dodd battled foul trouble, but had nine points, not missing a field goal attempt, four rebounds, two steals, two blocks in 20 minutes of action. Roberts ended the game with nine points, two rebounds.
UP NEXT
The Lions conclude the trip to Colorado on Monday at the US Air Force Academy against the Falcons at 7 p.m. MST.
-TAMUC-
