COMMERCE – After 23 lead changes in the first 30 minutes of Thursday night's game in the Field House, the Northwestern State Demons pulled away from the Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team and took the 88-82 win.
 
The Lions snap their three-game winning streak and drop to 7-4 in Southland Conference play and 11-14 overall, while the Demons are 17-8 overall and 9-3 in the SLC. Both teams meet again on Saturday.
 
JJ Romer Rosario (Hialeah Gardens, Fla.) scored the first 12 of the 23 points of the game for the Lions and he hit back-to-back threes to give A&M-Commerce a 23-17 lead and forced a timeout to be used by the Demons.
 
The Demons capitalized on a stretch in which the Lions shot 1 for 8 from the field to take a 27-26 lead. Both teams combined for seven blocks in the first half. After the Demons took a 31-28 lead, Demarcus Demonia (Fort Washington, Md.) scored five straight to put the Lions back in front.
 
Northwestern State shot 48.3 percent from the field in the first half and led 36-35 at halftime. Demonia was held to just nine points in the last game but had eight in the first half on Thursday.
 
There were 10 lead changes in the first five minutes of the second half, with neither side able to pull away. The largest lead for either side in the first 10 minutes of the second half was three points. Northwestern State pulled away with a 7-0 run.
 
Northwestern State hit 10 of its next 12 field goals, including two different 7-0 runs, to increase its lead to as much as 15. The Lions quickly brought the deficit down by going on an 8-0 run, but the Demons remained up front for the rest of the game, despite the Lions pulling to six.
 
Romer Rosario led the way with 25 points, five rebounds, two assists, and a block. Demonia ended the game with 19 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and a block. Kalen Williams (Augusta, Ga.) scored 11 with three rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Alonzo Dodd (St. Paul, Minn.) led the way with five assists.
 
Demarcus Sharp scored 35 points for the Demons, who shot 57 percent in the game. Sharp also grabbed seven rebounds and dished out six assists.

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The Lions and the Demons meet in Natchitoches, Louisiana, on Saturday to complete the home-and-home swing at 3:30 p.m.