COMMERCE – It took 55 minutes, but the Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball prevailed 83-80 over the Northwestern State Demons in three overtimes on Wednesday night in the Field House to secure its seeding in the Southland Conference Tournament.
The Lions took the win to improve to 6-12 in conference play, finishing in seventh, while the Demons are sixth with a conference record of 7-11. A&M-Commerce and Northwestern State meets in the first round of the SLC Tournament on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
All fans looking to see the Lions in person at the conference tournament, can purchase their tickets
HERE.
A&M-Commerce is 12-19 on the season and Northwestern State is 9-22. Wednesday was the first win for the Lions over NSU since joining the Southland. The Lions now have at least one win over every other team in the 10-team conference.
SENIOR DAY
Prior to the game, the Lions honored their two graduating seniors:
Kalen Williams (Augusta, Ga.) and
Tommie Lewis (Vero Beach, Fla.) as well as student manager Rey Corona.
With 1:02 left in regulation, the Demons hit a jumper to go up 57-54. Williams knocked down a free throw to bring the Lions within three. Northwestern State missed a jumper, the Lions got the rebound and missed a three-pointer, but got the offensive rebound.
Lewis drilled a three-pointer at the buzzer to tie the game at 57 and send the game to overtime.
TOMMIE LEWIS BUZZER-BEATER HIGHLIGHT
The Lions scored the first four points in first overtime, but Northwestern State answered to tie the game at 61 with 2:48 in the period. A jumper by Lewis put the Lions up 63-61 with 2:09 left, but the Demons tied the game on a layup from Duane Posey with 23 seconds left.
A&M-Commerce had two chances to take the lead in the final 23 seconds, but could not get the go-ahead basket.
In second overtime, the Demons scored six of the first eight to lead by four at the 2:54 mark. The Lions re-took the lead on back-to-back threes by
Khaliq Abdul-Mateen (Cy-Fair). Northwestern State tied the game with a pair of free throws.
Evan Phelps knocked down a three to put the Lions up by three with 1:31 to go. The Demons' Cliff Davis answered with a three-pointer and sent the game into triple overtime.
Wednesday was just the third triple overtime game in program history and first since 2012.
The Demons had a 78-76 lead at the 4:07 mark of third overtime, but the Demons did not score again until six seconds left in the period. During that stretch, the Lions scored seven in a row, taking a five-point lead.
To start the game, the Lions lead 13-5 at the 15:11 mark, holding their largest lead of the game at the 9:05 mark, 27-14. A dunk by Williams with 6:08 mark in the first half put the Lions ahead 29-16.
Northwestern State outscored A&M-Commerce, 18-2, the rest of the first half to take a 34-31 lead at halftime. The Lions went 0 for 9 from the field during that stretch.
In the first minute of the second half, the Demons scored six straight to take an eight-point lead. With NSU leading 41-32 at the 17:25 mark, A&M-Commerce scored 10 of the next 12 to make it a one-point game.
The Lions tied the game at 45 and took a 47-45 lead, its first of the second half, on two free throws from
Rob Banks (Bracknell, England). The Demons used an 8-0 run to take a 55-49 lead with 3:03 left in the second half.
Williams scored 30 for more points for the third time in four games. He totaled 31 points, seven rebounds, and two steals, while Lewis totaled 13 points, nine rebounds, three steals, and two blocks, fouling out in first overtime.
Abdul-Mateen added 12 points and
KC Ugwuakazi recorded six points and nine rebounds off the bench. For the Demons, Justin Wilson scored 29, while Chase Forte had 25 points and 10 rebounds.
POST GAME INTERVIEW
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