COMMERCE – In the first round of the Lone Star Conference tournament on Tuesday night in the Field House, the No. 5 seeded Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team is eliminated by No. 12 seeded Texas A&M-Kingsville via a score of 49-46.
 
The Lions drop to 17-8 on the season and were ranked No. 6 in the latest NCAA South Central Regional Rankings. A&M-Commerce awaits to see if it receives an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament during the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday at 9:30 p.m.
 
On Tuesday, both teams shot below 35 percent and the Lions were held to 11 points in the final 17 minutes of the game. A&M-Commerce was down 46-40 with 4:45 left, but pulled to within 47-46 with a layup from JJ Romer Rosario (Hialeah Gardens, Fla.) at the 1:10 mark. The Lions had two possessions down the stretch and were not able to get the ball in the hoop in either.


POSTGAME INTERVIEW

The Lions led 7-0 to start the game and did not trail through the first 12 minutes. The Javelinas went on a 7-0 run to take a 18-14 lead at the 7:34 mark. The Lions largest lead in the game was 10-2 with 14:08 left in the first half. The Javelinas hit a three pointer just before halftime to lead 28-27 at the break.
 
Demarcus Demonia (Fort Washington, Md.) hit a three pointer for the first points of the second half to regain the lead and the Lions went up by five on a three pointer by Jairus Roberson (DeSoto). A 10-2 run by the Javelinas over the next seven minutes gave them a 38-37 lead, which they did not surrender. Khaliq Abdul-Mateen (Cy Lakes) tied it at 40, but the Javelinas scored the next six points.
 
After shooting 43 percent in the first half, the Lions were held to shoot 28 percent in the second half. They were held to 8 for 26 from the distance and shot 6 for 14 at the line. The 46 points for the Lions are their lowest under coach Jaret von Rosenberg. Tuesday is the first time that the Lions scored less than 50 points since 3/1/15. The 46 points are lowest since 39 against West Texas A&M on 2/27/13.
 
The Javelinas shot 23.1 percent in the second half and 29.6 percent in the game, they shot 10 for 16 at the line. Thirty seven of the 49 points came off the bench for the Javelinas.
 
Demonia totaled 12 points and two rebounds. Clashon Gaffney (Clarksville) tallied two points, six rebounds, and three blocks. Alphonso Willis (Atlanta, Ga.) and Roberson had eight points each and Willis led the team with seven rebounds. Carson Tuttle (Mukilteo, Wash.) had six points, five assists, two rebounds, and a steal.
 
Marcus Jones led the Javelinas with 11 points, Creighton Avery had 10 points.