Lions Snap Three-Game Losing Skid with 77-60 Win Over East Central
The Texas A&M University-Commerce men’s basketball team snapped a three-game losing streak with a 77-60 win over host East Central on Wednesday night in Ada, Oklahoma.
A&M-Commerce (16-7, 5-3 LSC North) junior Brian Singleton had a team-high 18 points in the win to go along with six assists and a steal in the win. Also in double digits were senior Ronnie Morgan and sophomore Brad Hambrick, who added 12 and 11 points, respectively. The Lions hit six three pointers in the game and for the seventh time on the season in which they have hit at least six three pointers in a game.
East Central (6-16, 1-7 LSC North) was held to 36.5% shooting from the field, including a 1-for-16 effort from beyond the 3-point line.
The Tigers’ Eric Allen had a double double with 17 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Also in double figures were Maurice Abraham and Denarius Darby, who added 12 and 11 points, respectively. It marks the 12th time that the Lions have held an opponent to under 40% shooting from the field.
After seeing the host Tigers go on a 9-0 spurt, late in the first half, the two teams exchanged baskets on back-to-back possessions. It was the Lions final basket of the half – an alley-oop dunk from Singleton to Dallas Hunter - that energized the A&M-Commerce squad.
The Lions took the momentum and scored six of the first seven points of the second half to build a double-digit lead that they would not relinquish for the remainder of the contest. A&M-Commerce built the lead to as much as 20, 72-52, when Singleton hit a 3 pointer with 2:20 left in the game.
In the second 20 minutes, the Lions hit 46.9% of their shots including a 5-for-9 effort from beyond the 3-point line. In addition, they made 8 of 12 free throws. East Central was held to 35.1% and 0-for-8 from beyond the 3-point line.
The win puts the Lions into third place in the Lone Star Conference North Division as they head into their next game on Saturday against Southeastern Oklahoma State at The Field House.
