EASTON, Mass. – Two free throws with 0.8 seconds left in Monday night's game separated the East Texas A&M University men's basketball team and the Stonehill Skyhawks at Merkert Gymnasium as the Skyhawks defended home court with a 67-65 win.
 
The Lions had the lead for over 31 minutes, including a 65-63 lead with 13 seconds to play on a layup by Scooter Williams Jr. (Chattanooga, Tenn.), but following a timeout, the Lions were called for a foul on the defensive end with three seconds to play and Stonehill's Todd Brogna hit both free throws.
 
Looking to take the lead back, the Lions inbounded the pass with two seconds left, but it was stolen by Chas Stinson, who went up for the game-winning basket with 0.8 seconds left and was able to draw a foul and hit both shots at the line to put the Skyhawks ahead for good.  
 
The Lions drop to 1-6 on the season, having lost all six games this season on the road, and third straight overall. Stonehill improves to 4-4 on the season. Both teams are in the same NCAA reclassification class and went 1-1 against each other over the past two seasons.
 
Stonehill is a member of the Northeast Conference.
 
There were total of 10 five lead changes and four ties in the first half. The Lions used a 9-2 run over a stretch of three minutes and 55 seconds to build a 32-26 lead at the 1:33 mark of the first half, which was the largest lead for either team in the first half.
 
Stonehill scored the final four points of the half, including a three-pointer at the buzzer to make it a 32-30 game at the half. The Lions hit 3 of 4 three-pointers in the second half to go up 51-43.
 
After that point, the Lions were held without a field goal for over seven minutes after leading 51-43 as the Skyhawks came all the way back to tie the game at 53. The only two points for the Lions during the stretch came at the line.
 
As the Lions shot 1 for 9 from the field, the Skyhawks took the first lead since the first half. Khaliq Abdul-Mateen (Cy-Lakes) hit a three-pointer on a second chance opportunity to give East Texas A&M the lead once again. In the game, there were eight lead changes and seven ties.
 
For the Lions, Williams Jr. scored 14 to lead the team, while Josh Taylor (Atlanta, Ga.) had 10 points to go along with team-best six rebounds. Abdul-Mateen totaled eight points and five rebounds.
 
Off the bench, Camerin James (Apopka, Fla.) added nine points and Mykol Sanchez-Vega (Orlanda, Fla.) added seven. Stonehill's Josh Morgan led all scorers on either team with 20 points.
 

POST GAME INTERVIEW
 
UP NEXT
After visiting six states over their first seven games, the next five games for the Lions come in Texas. East Texas A&M hosts Purdue Fort Wayne on Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
The game is part of the ETAMU SAAC's Toy Drive. Everyone that brings a toy to support Commerce's Lil Angels will receive free admission.