COMMERCE – The East Texas A&M University men's basketball team was downed 83-61 on Monday night at the Hunt Regional Healthcare Court in the Field House by the Nicholls Colonels.
 
Falling behind 3-0 early in the game, the Lions took first of their two leads on a 5-0 run at the 16:05 mark of the first half and again at the 13:42 mark, but the Colonels took a 7-6 lead at the 13:29 mark of the first half and did not trail again.
 
The Lions, who trailed by as much 24 in the game, shot 41.7 percent from the game, including 51.7 percent in the second half. Nicholls shot 56.4 percent in the game, 9 for 20 from distance and 12 for 13 at the line, while the Lions shot 6 for 28 from deep and 5 for 12 at the line.
 
Jamal West Jr. scored 17 of the bench for the Colonels, while Michael Gray Jr. added 17 as well. The Colonels' bench outscored the Lion bench, 42-33.
 
Both Khaliq Abdul-Mateen Jr. (Cy-Lakes) and Scooter Williams Jr. (Chattanooga, Tenn.) scored 12 points each for the Lions. Camerin James (Apopka, Fla.) and Demarco Bethea (Sellars, S.C.) added nine points each.
 
Nicholls outrebounded East Texas A&M 34-26. The Colonels have four in a row against the Lions over the last two seasons and are now 9-6 overall and 3-1 in Southland Conference play. The Lions fall to 2-13 overall and 0-4 in conference play. It is the first 0-4 start in conference play for East Texas A&M since 2011-12.
 

POST GAME INTERVIEW
 
UP NEXT
The Lions play their next two games on the road at Northwestern State on Saturday at 1 p.m. and at UTRGV next Monday.