OKLAHOMA CITY – The first meeting between the Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team and the Oklahoma Christian Eagles came down to one possession earlier this season. Saturday afternoon was a bit different as the Lions cruised to an 87-66 win in the Eagles' Nest.
The Lions improve to 15-4 on the season, winning three straight and are 7-3 in Lone Star Conference game, which puts them in fourth place. The Eagles are 7-17 overall and 3-7 in conference games.
The Eagles scored the first six points of the game, restricting the Lions to miss their first three shots. An and-one by
Demarcus Demonia (Fort Washington, Md.) and a dunk by
Clashon Gaffney (Clarksville) pulled the Lions to within 6-5.
Carson Tuttle (Mukilteo, Wash.) tied the game at eight with a three pointer.
Gaffney gave the Lions their first lead of the game at the 14:54 mark with a layup at 10-8.
Jairus Roberson (DeSoto) made four three pointers in the first half. He knocked down two in a row to give the Lions a 16-11 lead. The Lions did not surrender that lead for the rest of the game. Their largest lead was 40-31 in the first half and they led 40-33 at the half.
Demonia had 11 points and six rebounds in the first half. Gaffney tallied seven points. The Lions shot 51.9 percent from the field and 8 for 15 from the distance, holding the Eagles to shoot 2 for 9 from the distance.
The Lions extended their lead to as much as 26 points in the second half, outscoring Oklahoma Christian 47-33 in the second half. The Lions shot 61 percent from the field in the second half and knocked down six three pointers.
A&M-Commerce outshot Oklahoma Christian, 57 percent to 48 percent. The Eagles shot 3 for 16 from outside the three-point arc, the Lions shot 14 for 26.
Demonia led the team with 20 points and eight rebounds. He shot 7 for 8 from the field and knocked down three three pointers. He also recorded three assists, one steal, and one block. Roberson made one three pointer in the second half, he finished the game with 15 points. Gaffney also scored 15 points and he recorded six rebounds.
Alphonso Willis (Atlanta, Ga.) stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points, four rebounds, game-high eight assists, four steals, and a block. Tuttle finished the game with nine points and three assists.
Augustine Ene (Carrollton – Creekview) totaled nine points, two steals, one block, and a steal.
Carius Key (Irving – MacArthur) had four points off the bench and
Rodney Brown (Beaumont – Westbrook) had two points. Key also grabbed three rebounds.
Moun'tae Edmundson led the Eagles with 20 points.
POSTGAME INTERVIEW
UP NEXT
The Lions head back on the road up to Oklahoma on Tuesday to face Cameron at 7:30 p.m.
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