MEN'S BASKETBALL

The Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team returned to its winning ways on Tuesday night with a 96-81 win over host Henderson State in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. 

A&M-Commerce (10-2) led from the opening tip after an offensive rebound and basket by senior Justin Wilkerson, who recorded his first double double of the season in the win. Wilkerson had 15 points and 10 rebounds was not the only Lion to score in double figures as he was joined by three other starters and off the bench, Preston Whitley.

Junior Brian Singleton led all scorers with 28 points, including four 3 pointers. He was joined by Whitley, who scored a career-high 19 points; Brad Hambrick added 15 and Sammy Jackson scored 10.

Henderson State (5-6) got a double double from Lance Smith, who had 19 points, a game-high 14 rebounds and four blocked shots in the loss. He was joined in double figures by Tommy Tillman and Kyle Oldham, who each scored 13, Jeff Shelton and Tyrus Mann came off the bench to score 12 and 10 points, respectively.

After a 30-second timeout with 5:57 left in the first half by veteran head coach Sam Walker, the Lions answered with a 9-2 spurt that took a four-point advantage to double digits where it would remain for the rest of the half.

A tip in after an offensive rebound by Wilkerson and a 3 pointer by Singleton allowed the Lions to close out the opening half with a 16-point half advantage, 51-35. The Lions are 10-1 in 2009-10 when they have led their opponents at the intermission .

Coming out of the halftime break, the Lions scored 10 of the first 14 points, culminated by a 3 pointer Hambrick, to start the second 20 minutes. Henderson State managed to cut the deficit to as little as six, 71-65, with 8:56 to go on a Tillman 3 pointer.

Again, A&M-Commerce had an answer as they went on a 14-4 run to end any comeback chances for the Reddies.

Next, the Lions will host Ouachita Baptist on Monday, January 4^th at the A&M-Commerce Field House at 7 p.m.