COMMERCE – Jerome Brewer Jr.'s 32 points were not enough for the Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team in a 73-67 loss in the Field House to McNeese on Saturday afternoon in the conference opener.
 
The Lions led by as much as 12 in the second half, but the Cowboys stormed back to take the win in a game with 12 lead changes and seven ties. McNeese improves to 12-2 overall and 1-0 in Southland play, while A&M-Commerce is 6-8 overall and 0-1 in conference.
 
This was a rematch of last season's first round of the SLC Tournament, McNeese has now won two straight in the series, after the Lions took the previous two.
 
McNeese was held to just five points in the first eight minutes, as the Lions led 15-5. Outside of two early leads, McNeese did not lead in the first half.
 
The Cowboys cut down the Lion lead to 23-22 at the 5:18 mark of the first half on a 9-0 run, but the Lions scored eight of the final nine points of the first half to lead 36-28 at the break.
 
Brewer Jr. (Camden, N.J.) shot 7 for 8 from the field, including 2 for 3 from deep for 18 points in the first half. McNeese's Antavion Collum scored 15 in the first half. The Lions shot 54 percent from the field, while the Cowboys shot 32 percent.
 
The Lions extended their lead to 44-32 at the 18:26 mark of the second half, which was the largest lead for either team in the game. McNeese went on a 15-0 run over the next five minutes to take a three-point lead, its first since 5-4 in the first half.
 
A quick 6-0 run by the Lions put them up 58-53 with 7:57 left in the game, but a 7-0 run followed by McNeese.
 
With 2:25 left in the game, Brewer Jr. knocked down two free throws to put the Lions up 64-63. The Cowboys scored the next seven to lead 70-64 with 43 seconds left, which was the largest lead of the game for McNeese. Brewer Jr. hit a three-pointer, but McNeese missed just one free throw attempt down the stretch.
 
McNeese tallied 42 free throw attempts in the game, making 31. Shahada Wells scored 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Cowboys with 20 points coming in the second half.
 
The Cowboys shot 46 percent from the field and 63 percent from deep in the second half. Collum finished with 20 points for McNeese. The Cowboys shot 17 for 44 from the field.
 
Brewer Jr. finished the game with 32 points, which is a new career-high and he is the second Lion to score 30 or more points this season. He led the team with seven rebounds as well. Tommie Lewis (Vero Beach, Fla.) scored 12 off the bench and Kalen Williams (Augusta, Ga.) added. 10. The Lions shot 30 percent in the second half, being outscored, 45-31.
 
This is the first time the Lions have lost the conference opener since 2020-21 and just the second time under seventh-year coach Jaret von Rosenberg.

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The Lions have a quick turnaround, heading to New Orleans on Monday at 6:30 p.m.