Lions Last-Minute Rally Comes Up Short in 90-86 Loss to No. 9 Midwestern State
A valiant comeback down the stretch with an 11-2 run to end the game would not be enough as host Texas A&M University-Commerce dropped a 90-86 decision to No. 9 Midwestern State on Thursday night at the Field House.
A&M-Commerce scored the first two points of the game but the visiting Mustangs scored the next nine points and eventually built a double-digit lead in the first half that reached as much as 17, 42-25, when the Mustangs’ Charlie Logan hit a jumper with 1:37 left in the first 20 minutes.
The Mustangs made 52.8% of their shots and outscored A&M-Commerce by a 19 to 2 margin on points off turnovers en route to a 45-29 halftime lead. The 45 points at the break are the most scored by a Lions’ opponent in 2009-10.
In the second half, A&M-Commerce found itself behind 60-47 with 12:42 to go until they scored seven-straight points to cut the deficit to six with 11:57 remaining. It marked the closest that the Lions had been since the 14:35 mark of the first half when they trailed, 15-9.
Midwestern State answered the spurt by scoring 12 of the next 14 points to build a 72-56 advantage with 9:26 to go in the contest. The Mustangs built the advantage to as much 18; however, the Lions refused to give into their nationally-ranked counterparts.
Trailing 86-72 with 4:10 to go, the Lions went on a 12-2 run that cut the deficit to four with 42 seconds to go. The Mustangs’ Jason Ebie sealed the victory with a pair of free throws with 26 seconds to go for a 90-84 lead. After a lay up by Sammy Jackson cut the deficit to four and a Midwestern State turnover, the Lions’ opportunities at a last-second comeback ended as they missed two 3 pointers in the final seconds of the contest.
Both teams shot well in the game as A&M-Commerce shot 54.1% from the field and the Midwestern State made 50.8% of their shots. In a game that featured 44 fouls, the Mustangs made 21 of 25 free throws for 84% as the Lions made 15 of 28 free throws for 53.6%.
A&M-Commerce had six players in double figures in the contest. Sammy Jackson led the Lions with a team-high 16 points. Brad Hambrick and Brian Singleton each had 14, Cardell Hunter added 13; plus both Ronnie Morgan and Preston Whitley came off the bench to score 11 points. The loss drops A&M-Commerce to 11-3 on the season.
Midwestern State also had six players in double digits in the game. Craig Green led the Mustangs and the game with 21 points. Chris Hagan added 15, Charlie Logan and Michael Godwin each had 13 and Anthony Moore chipped in 11. The win improves the Mustangs to 14-0 and continues its best start in school history.
Next, the Lions will face Tarleton State, who has won six in a row, on Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Field House.
