COMMERCE – The Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team fell 69-54 to A&M-Corpus Christi on Monday night in the Field House.
 
The Islanders missed their first four field goals and were scoreless for the first three and a half minutes of the game, but the Lions were not able to capitalize as they went 1 for their first 7, including a scoring drought of over four minutes. A&M-Corpus Christi made three shots in a row from deep, to take a 9-2 lead during the Lion scoring drought.
 
Following the slow start, the Islanders used a 12-2 run, including making five of seven shots from the field. Back-to-back three-pointers from the Lions, pulled them within 15-12 at the 10:24 mark of the first half.
 
Both teams combined for a scoring drought of two minutes with the Islanders leading 17-12. The Islanders were held to two points from the 8:04 mark of the first half, until the final seconds of the half, as the Lions pulled to within 21-20. There was a stretch of four minutes where neither team scored.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi drilled a three-pointer right before the halftime buzzer to ends its scoring drought and take a 24-21 lead at the half.
 
Both Zondrick Garrett (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) and Kalen Williams (Augusta, Ga.) scored five points each in the first half for the Lions, while Tedrick Washington shot 3 for 4 from the distance for nine first-half points off the bench for the Islanders.
 
Both teams shot below 30.0 percent in the first half. A&M-Commerce was 8 for 27 from the field, 2 for 12 from deep, and 2 for 6 at the line, while A&M-Corpus Christi was 7 for 26, 4 for 8, and 6 for 7, respectively.
 
The two teams combined for 15 turnovers as well as 15 field goals made in the first half. The Lions had four blocks, while the Islanders had five.
 
The Lions trailed 27-24 in the early stages of the second half, but the Islanders then went on a 10-0 run to take the largest of the game for either team up to that point. The Lions responded by scoring the next five to the deficit down to single digits, but the Islanders extended their lead to 16 with 2:23 left in the game.
 
The two teams combined for 15 fouls in the first three and a half minutes of the second half and totaled 29 fouls in the half. The Lions were called for 20 fouls in the second half and 26 in the game.
 
Williams led the team with 11 points, four rebounds, and an assist, while Tommie Lewis (Vero Beach, Fla.) posted 10 points and two rebounds. The Lions shot 33 percent from the field, 27 percent from deep, and 67 percent at the line.
 
For the Islanders, Garry Clark scored 18 with 10 rebounds, while Washington added 13 off the bench. The Islanders finished the game shooting 35.3 percent from the field, 46.2 percent from outside-the-arc, and 73 percent, going 27 for 37, at the line.
 
The Lions have lost three in a row to fall to 7-13 overall and 1-6 in Southland play, while the Islanders are 13-8 overall and 6-2 in conference play.
 

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The Lions conclude the home stand on Wednesday at 7 p.m. against UIW. Tickets can be purchased at LionAthletics.com/Tickets.