Lions Fall to LSC North Division Leader Central Oklahoma, 101-86

Texas A&M University-Commerce freshman Preston Whitley (pictured) scored a career-high and game-high 26 points in a 101-86 loss to host Central Oklahoma on Wednesday night in Edmond, Oklahoma. 

A&M-Commerce (17-8, 6-4 LSC North) scored first on a Brian Singleton lay up; however, UCO scored the next five points as Dauntae Williams made a lay up and Tyler Phillips hit a 3 pointer for a lead that it would not surrender. 

Central Oklahoma (20-4, 9-0 LSC North) in the win extended its winning streak to a school record 16 straight. 

Six Bronchos scored in double figures including Shane Carroll and Phillips, who scored 23 and 20 points, respectively. Joining them in double figures was Eric Cazenave, who scored 19 points – all in the second half – Williams added 18, Carl Curry and Chris Rhymes scored 11 and 10 points, respectively. 

In addition to the 26 from Whitley, Ronnie Morgan added 13, Brad Hambrick and Cardell Hunter scored 12 and 11 points, respectively. Morgan was just shy of a double double with a game-high nine rebounds. 

The Bronchos built the lead to 19 on four occasions in the first half as they shot 58.1% from the field. To start the second half, A&M-Commerce went on a 15-5 spurt to lower the lead to single digits, 55-46 with 17:12 left in the game. 

Cazenave came back and hit three 3 pointers over a three-minute span to put the lead at double digits for the league leaders. Trailing by 15, 75-60 with 10:20 to go, the Lions reeled off eight-straight points to reduce the lead to seven. However that would be as close as A&M-Commerce would get. 

 Next, the Lions will return to action on Wednesday at 8 pm in its home finale against Southwestern Oklahoma State at The Field House.