LAWTON, Okla. – A 12-5 run to end Tuesday night's game gave the Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team at 85-81 win in the Aggie Gym over the Cameron Aggies.
 
The Lions scored seven of the final 10 points to move into into a tie with DBU for the second spot in the Lone Star Conference standings with a record of 8-3. The Lions hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Patriots. A&M-Commerce has won four in a row and is 15-4 on the season. Cameron is 2-14 overall and 0-9 in LSC games.
 
Both exchanged the lead for the first six minutes of the game, until a three pointer from Colt Savage gave the Aggies a 10-6 lead. They stayed in front, leading by as much as five points, until a layup from Alphonso Willis (Atlanta, Ga.) gave the Lions a 31-30 lead at the 4:16 mark.
 
The Aggies closed out the first half making their last seven shots and ended the half with a 7-0 run to lead 45-36 at halftime. Brock Schreiner shot 7 for 10 from the field for 20 points, making four three pointers. On the Lions' side, Willis had 12 points on 5 for 9 shooting. Schreiner had 29 points in the game.
 
The Lions shot 50 percent from the field and 2 for 10 from distance, while the Aggies shot 57 percent from the field and made seven three pointers.
 
Savage gave the Aggies a 51-40 lead with 16:18 left in the game. The Lions stormed back and took a 55-54 lead on a three pointer by Khaliq Abdul-Mateen (Cy Lakes). Aggies, looking for their first conference win, did not go down quietly.
 
Following the Lions jumping out to a 57-54 lead, the Aggies charged back to lead by eight with 8:42 to go. They did not trail in the game until an alley oop thrown down by Clashon Gaffney (Clarskville) from Demarcus Demonia (Fort Washington, Md.) gave the Lions a 78-76 lead with 2:57 left.
 
Demonia blocked the Aggies' chance to take the lead, grabbed the rebound, and threw the pass to Gaffney. Aggies once again tied the game on a dunk on the other end by Connor Slater.
 
With the game tied at 78 with 1:58 left, Abdul-Mateen made two free throws and Jairus Roberson (DeSoto) knocked down a three pointer for a quick 5-0 run for the Lions. Gaffney added a put-back dunk to give the Lions an 85-78 lead, their largest of the game. Deondre Earley swished in a three with two seconds left for the Aggies.
 
Willis went 11 for 19 from the field and 6 for 8 at the line for 28 points. He tallied six rebounds, seven assists, two blocks, and a steal as well. Gaffney had a double-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks.
 
Demonia recorded 10 points, five rebounds, two assists, a block, and a steal, while Roberson added 12 points and three rebounds off the bench. Augustine Ene (Carrollton – Creekview) scored eight points. Carson Tuttle (Mukilteo, Wash.) had five points, two rebounds, and four assists.
 
Off the bench, Abdul-Mateen had seven points, two rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Alex Peavy (San Antonio – Smithson Valley) recorded five points and a rebound.
 
The Lions outshot the Aggies, 47 percent to 43 percent, in the second half. Aggies made 12 three pointers, while the Lions knocked in eight.


POSTGAME INTERVIEW
 
UP NEXT
The Lions head to UT Tyler for a non-conference matchup on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.