COMMERCE – The Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team scored a 80-75 win over Eastern New Mexico on Thursday evening. The Lions trailed by double figures early in the second half but had a late scoring run to secure the victory.
The win brings the Lions to 16-9 on the season and 12-7 in the Lone Star Conference. The Greyhounds fall to 7-17 and 7-12 in conference play.
The Lions return to the court on Saturday as they host No. 3 West Texas A&M in their final regular season home game of the year. The game will be a part of Senior Day festivities, and will begin at 4 p.m. at the Field House.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Wayne Stewart (Philadelphia, Pa.) led the way for A&M-Commerce with 24 points, hitting 11-of-12 from the foul line. He also had a double-double with 12 rebounds.
• Josh Winbush (Lake Charles, La.) added 14 points, hitting all five of his shots from the field, and four more from the foul line.
• Isaiah Wiggins (Harlem, N.Y.) also scored in double figures with 11 points.
• The Lions shot 35 percent from beyond the arc and converted 21 free throws. There were 60 free throws shot in the contest.
• The Lions had 25 turnovers in the game, while ENMU had 18 giveaways.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Stewart had the hot hand early for the Lions, scoring a pair of early baskets. The Lions quickly jumped out to a 10-3 lead as shots were falling early. The Lions continued to shoot well from deep, leading by nine at the midway mark of the half.
ENMU began to crawl back, going on a 13-2 run over the next four minutes to take their first lead of the game. The lead traded hands several times in the subsequent minutes, as at the two-minute mark, the game was tied at 29. Stewart had several monster dunks in the time frame to excite the home crowd. ENMU finished on a tear, as they scored eight of the final nine points of the half to take a 37-30 lead into the half. Stewart led the Li
Stewart led the Lions with 12 points in the first half, while also grabbing six rebounds. Wiggins and Austin Grandstaff (Rockwall) added five apiece. The Lions were plagued with turnovers in the half, committing 14 in the half.
The Greyhounds scored the first four points of the second half to establish a double-figure lead. The Lions then clawed their way back, going on a 9-0 run to cut the Greyhound lead to just two points with five minutes gone in the half.
The teams continued to battle before the Lions tied the game at 46-all on a monster dunk from Carius Key (Irving – MacArthur). ENMU then went on a run to reestablish a lead, hitting a pair of shots from long range. The Lions fought back, converting on two three-point plays from Wiggins. With seven minutes to play, the game was once again tied.
ENMU pushed its lead back to five but the Lions kept pace with a pair of corner threes from Leo Lara (Santa Rosa). A putback from Winbush at the four minute mark gave the Lions a lead for the first time since the first half, as the Lions went on a 9-0 run. It was a lead the Lions would not relinquish. Stewart and Deonta Terrell (Chicago, Ill.) both hit shots as the Lions pushed their lead to as many as nine late.
ENMU began to foul to extend the game, and hit a pair of threes to cut the Lion lead to just four points with half a minute left. The Lions held strong, hitting their free throws when it counted most to leave with the win.