Late Lion rally not enough in 76-71 loss to No. 15 DBU

COMMERCE – The Texas A&M University-Commerce men’s basketball team fell behind No. 15 Dallas Baptist University early in the second half and could not fight back in a 76-71 loss in the Field House on Thursday evening. 

The Lions move to 5-4 overall and 4-3 in the Lone Star Conference, while DBU is now 11-2 and 11-2 in league play.

The two teams will meet again at 2 p.m. Saturday at DBU’s Burg Center. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

– The Lions shot 41.9 percent (26-of-62) for the game with 12 made three-pointers, including a 53.1 percent (17-of-32) rate in the second half.

– Devin Bethely (Baton Rouge, La.) scored 22 points with six assists and five rebounds to lead the Lions.

– Dante Adams (Osceola, Ark.) had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds off the bench.

– The Lions were hampered by 23 turnovers, which the Patriots turned into 28 points.

– The Lions had a strong 43-28 advantage in rebounding. 

HEAD COACH JARET von ROSENBERG AFTER THE GAME

 

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first half of the contest was a real grind, with neither team getting a scoring rhythm going until late in the period. Donald Ghostone (Grand Prairie) opened the scoring with a triple on the Lions’ first shot of the game, but A&M-Commerce would make only two more field goals in the first 10 minutes of action. Fortunately, the Lion defense would keep DBU from scoring as well. Another Ghostone triple at the 10-minute mark tied the game at 10-all. 

Bethely made a layup followed by an Adams trey to push the Lion lead back to three points at 15-12 with 8:40 to play. DBU scored five straight points after that and would not trail again in half. Augustine Ene (Carrollton – Creekview) canned a three-pointer in the final half-minute to cut into the lead and make it a 27-25 for the Patriots at the intermission. 

The Lions shot 30 percent (9-of-30) in half but held a 22-13 rebounding advantage. DBU made 44 percent of its shots (11-of-25), but both teams made only four three-pointers. 

A&M-Commerce tied the game up on the second half’s opening possession, and a Bethely three-pointer had the game tied at 30-all before DBU went on an 11-0 run. The Lions were only able to take three shots in that span and turned the ball over four times, as the Patriots went ahead 41-30 with 14:51 to play. 

The teams traded baskets for the next five minutes before a barrage of Lion long-range efforts. Carson Tuttle (Mukilteo, Wash.), Adams, and Bethely all made three-pointers in less than a minute as part of five straight made Lion baskets to cut the lead to 52-49 with 8:20 to play. 

Another DBU rally had the Lions facing a 14-point deficit entering the game’s final two minutes, but the home side declined to go down without a fight. Leo Lara (Santa Rosa) made a three-pointer followed by four points from Adams on a pair of free throws and a dunk. Bethely converted a three-point play and nailed a fastbreak three-pointer late, but time ran out on the Lions.

Women’s basketball to play Cameron at home Tuesday

COMMERCE – The Texas A&M University-Commerce women’s basketball team has announced the date and time for the rescheduled home contest against Cameron University. 

The Lions and Aggies will meet in The Field House in Commerce at 3:00 pm on Tuesday, February 9. The Lions were 89-71 victors in the game played in Lawton, Okla., earlier this season. 

Stay tuned to LionAthletics.com and our social media channels for updates on schedules throughout the season.

Sydney Andersen named LSC Defensive Player of the Week.

RICHARDSON – The league Thursday named Texas A&M University-Commerce senior Sydney Andersen the Lone Star Conference volleyball defensive player of the week.  

Andersen (Placentia, Calif.) was the Lions’ top all-around performer, recording a pair of double-doubles in a couple of five-set wins over DBU. In the Tuesday match, she hit .151 with 16 kills, 20 digs, and four service aces. She followed that up Wednesday with 13 kills, 20 digs, and an ace. 

She also had 37 service receptions without an error and chipped in on three blocks while holding DBU to a .099 hitting percentage, giving A&M-Commerce second in the league in opponent hitting percentage. 

Andersen and the Lions are 2-0 on the season and take on UT Tyler (4-0) on the road next Tuesday and Wednesday. UT Tyler and A&M-Commerce have now won all six available LSC player of the week awards this season. 

LONE STAR CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL WEEKLY AWARDS

Offensive

Jan. 29	Evelyn Torres, UT Tyler
Feb. 4	Hannah Callison, UT Tyler

Defensive

Jan. 29	Mikayla Ware, UT Tyler
Feb. 4	Sydney Andersen, A&M-Commerce

Setter

Jan. 29	Taylor Stoops, UT Tyler
Feb. 4	Taylor Stoops, UT Tyler (2)