COMMERCE – Four starters for the Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team scored in double digits, but it was not enough on Thursday night in the Field House as the New Orleans Privateers took an 84-78 win.
 
The Lions having lost their last three, fall to 11-16 on the season and 7-6 in Southland play, they are now in fifth place. New Orleans improves to 7-18 overall and 4-10 in SLC games. Both teams split the regular season series with each team winning on the road. 
 
A&M-Commerce scored the first points of the game and led again at 4-2, which was its first final lead of the game. UNO scored the next eight to jump out to a 10-4 lead at the 15:05 mark of the first half. The Privateers' largest lead of the game was 16 points, and it came at the 3:50 mark of the first half. 
 
The Lions trailed by as much as 14 in the second half, but fought back to make it a one possession game with 2:27 left in the game on an and-one by Kalen Williams (Augusta, Ga.). New Orleans served back a 6-0 run to go back up by nine. UNO shot 52.7 percent in the game and made 20 of its 28 free throws.
 
For A&M-Commerce, Jerome Brewer, Jr. (Camden, N.J.) and Williams scored 16 points each, while JJ Romer Rosario (Hialeah Gardens, Fla.) scored 14 and Demarcus Demonia (Fort Washington, Md.) added 13. Demonia and Romer Rosario grabbed five rebounds each, while Williams had five assists. 
 
Off the bench, C.J. Roberts (Irving – Richland) scored 10 and grabbed four rebounds, while Khaliq Abdul-Mateen (Cy-Lakes) scored seven. On the Privateers side, Jamond Vincent scored 20 and had game-high eight rebounds as well. 
 
The Lions shot 46.7 percent in the game and shot 5 for 20 from the distance. At the line, A&M-Commerce converted 17 of its 21 opportunities. The two teams combined to score 82 points in the paint, UNO had the slight, 42-40 edge. 

 
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A&M-Commerce welcomes Southeastern on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. as part of Senior Day.