NATCHITOCHES, La. – The Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball stormed back from being down 20 to take a lead in the second half on Saturday afternoon, but the Northwestern State Demons held the Lions to just three points in the final seven minutes for a 70-57 win at Prather Coliseum.
 
The Lions fall to 8-14 overall and are 2-7 at the midpoint of Southland Conference play, while the Demons are 6-16 overall and 4-5 in the Southland. The Lions fall to 0-3 against Northwestern State since joining the Southland and have lost six in a row dating back to 1970.
 
Northwestern State scored the first six points of the game and scored 13 in a row to take a 25-5 lead at the 8:03 mark of the first half. The Demons continued to lead by 20 at the 4:54 mark of the first half, until the Lions scored the nine to cut it to 29-18.
 
A jumper by Kalen Williams (Augusta, Ga.) brought the Lions within single digits at 31-22 with 28 seconds left in the half. Northwestern State scored on the other end to lead 33-22 at the break.
 
A&M-Commerce made two of its first 21 shot attempts in the game, but made six of its last eight shots to close out the first half. The Lions shot 10 for 31 from the field, 1 for 13 from deep, and 1 for 5 at the line in the first half, while Northwestern State shot 13 for 25, 1 for 5, and 6 for 10, respectively.
 
Both teams exchanged points early in the second half with the Demons leading 46-36 at the 15:27 mark, but the Lions charged again, this time cutting it to 46-45 and tying the game at 48 at the 12:24 mark on a three pointer from Alonzo Dodd (St. Paul, Minn.)
 
Zondrick Garrett (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) hit a layup with 10:52 left in the game to give the Lions a 50-48 lead, which was their first of the game. Both teams switched the lead, with neither leading by more than two until six minutes left in the game. A layup by the Lions' Ant Abraham (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) tied the game at 54 with 7:14 left in the game.
 
Northwestern State scored the next 12, as A&M-Commerce did not score again until the final minute of the game, which was another three from Dodd. In the final 7:14 of the game, the Lions were outscored 16-3.
 
The Lions ended the game shooting 34 percent from the field, while going 4 for 25 from the distance, and 11 for 18 at the line. The Demons shot 48.1 percent from the field, 3 for 7 from deep, and 17 for 24 from the line.
 
Kwo Agwa (Calgary, Can.) scored 15 for the Lions, going 6 for 10 from the field, along with team-best nine rebounds. Williams tallied 12 points, four rebounds, and three assists, while Garrett totaled 10 points and six rebounds. Off the bench, Abraham added eight points.
 
Justin Wilson led Northwestern State with 17, while Chase Forte scored 15, and Cliff Davis added 10.

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The Lions continue the road trip on Monday night at McNeese. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Lake Charles.