Lions Improve to 3-0 in Conference Play With 101-83 Win Over East Central

Four starters on the Texas A&M University-Commerce men’s basketball team scored in double digits in a 101-83 win over East Central on Wednesday night at the Field House. 

A&M-Commerce (14-4, 3-0 LSC North) Ronnie Morgan (picutred) had his fourth double double of the season with 24 points and 10 rebounds to pace the Lions. Brian Singleton and Cardell Hunter were in double figures, scoring 18 points each and Sammy Jackson added 11 points. 

As a team, A&M-Commerce continued its unselfish play as Brad Hambrick had eight assists, Singleton had six, Hunter and Jackson each had three. For the second game in a row, the Lions shot well in the second half as they shot 61.3% from the field and held their ECU counterparts to 32.5% shooting. In addition to its success from the field, A&M-Commerce hit 11 of 13 free throws. 

East Central (5-11, 0-2 LSC North) had five players in double figures in the defeat. Off the bench, Bobby McAdoo led the Tigers with 18 points. Eric Allen added 15, Wes Badley scored 11, Terrence Hill and Maurice Abraham each had 10 in the defeat. 

The visiting Tigers held a brief 15-14 advantage when Allen hit a 3 pointer with 12:24 was left in the first half until A&M-Commerce went on a game-deciding 19-4 run. In the run, Singleton hit two 3 pointers and Hambrick added another as well as the Lions other eight points came in the paint. 

The Lions remained ahead for the remainder of the contest and ECU would manage to cut the deficit to seven, 62-55, with 15:34 was left in the game. The Lions scored 12 of the next 14 for a 17-point lead, 74-57. A key part of the spurt was that 10 of the points came from the A&M-Commerce bench including Tyris Dowell and Esteban Arriola, who scored eight and two points, respectively.

Next, A&M-Commerce will take its three-game winning streak into Durant, Oklahoma on Sunday at 4 pm to face Southeastern Oklahoma State.