A&M-Commerce Lions at Incarnate Word Cardinals
Wednesday, December 7 • 7:30 p.m.
McDermott Center • San Antonio, Texas
Records: A&M-Commerce (2-4, 0-2 LSC); Incarnate Word (5-3, 1-1 LSC)
A&M-Commerce Lions vs. Drury Panthers
Saturday, December 10 • 3 p.m.
The Field House • Commerce, Texas
Records: A&M-Commerce (2-4); Drury (4-3)
Radio: KETR 88.9 FM (online at KETR.org)
Live Stats: LionAthletics.com
A&M-Commerce Game Notes (PDF)
Opening Tip
A&M-Commerce looks to end its skid on the road, traveling to San Antonio for a Lone Star Conference showdown at Incarnate Word Wednesday, December 7 at 7:30 p.m. The Lions then return to Commerce for a rematch with Drury on Saturday, December 10, with the opening tip set for 3 p.m at the Field House.
Lions On The Web
Lion basketball fans will be able to keep up with all the action this week. Scott Harvey will call the Lone Star Conference game Wednesday on KETR 88.9 FM and online at KETR.org. J.P. Heath will then resume his play-by-play duties for the game against Drury Saturday. Live stats of both games will also be available at LionAthletics.com.
Scouting the Cardinals
2011-12: 5-3 overall, 1-1 Lone Star, 2-1 home.
Last Three Games: W at St. Edward's (96-93, OT), L vs. West Texas A&M (65-63), W vs. Eastern New Mexico (85-70).
Head Coach: Ken Burmeister (St. Mary's, 1970). Sixth season at Incarnate Word (102-49, 675); 14th season overall (230-173, .571).
Cardinal Key Players:
• Dionelle Rucker (Jr., F): 107 pts. (13.4 avg.), 58.2 FG pct., 44 reb. (5.5 avg.), 11 ast., 17 stl.
• Shaun Umeh (Sr., G): 92 pts. (11.5 avg.), 50.7 FG pct., 42.9 3FG pct., 32 reb. (4.0 avg.), 21 ast., 20 stl.
• Chris Johnson (Sr., F): 78 pts. (11.1 avg.), 42.6 FG pct., 82.6 FT pct., 63 reb. (9.0 avg.), 12 ast.
• Lyndale Brown (Jr., G): 88 pts. (11.0 avg.), 46.1 FG pct., 31 reb. (3.9 avg.), 24 ast., 14 stl.
• Ian Markolf (Jr., C): 60 pts. (7.5 avg.), 45.5 FG pct., 55 reb. (6.9 avg.), 10 ast., 5 blk., 5 stl.
Series Information: A&M-Commerce and Incarnate Word get together for the ninth time Wednesday with the Cardinals holding a 5-3 edge in the all-time series. The Lions have won the last two meetings, however, taking a 94-74 victory over the Cardinals at the Field House on Jan. 6. A&M-Commerce took the last meeting at the McDermott Center, besting Incarnate Word 69-61 back in 2004-05.
Scouting the Panthers
2011-12: 4-3 overall, 1-1 Great Lakes Valley, 0-1 away. Drury plays at Missouri S&T Wednesday.
Last Three Games: L vs. Wayne State (61-51), L vs. Missouri-St. Louis (78-61), W vs. Maryville (81-55).
Head Coach: Steve Hesser (Oklahoma State, 1984). Eighth season at Drury (151-63, .706); Eighth season overall (151-63, 706).
Panther Key Players:
• Alex Hall (Jr., G): 121 pts. (17.3 avg.), 47.9 FG pct., 47.6 3FG pct., 93.9 FT pct., 30 reb. (4.3 avg.), 20 ast., 9 stl.
• Dennon Mitchell (Sr., G): 73 pts. (12.2 avg.), 46.0 FG pct., 45.9 3FG pct., 90.9 FT pct., 12 reb. (2.0 avg.), 11 ast., 10 stl.
• Brandon Lockhart (Jr. G): 67 pts. (9.6 avg.), 49.0 FG pct., 24 reb. (3.4 avg.), 24 ast., 18 stl.
• Teddy Simniok (Jr., F): 65 pts. (9.5 avg.), 55.6 FG pct., 25 reb. (3.6 avg.), 3 stl.
• Ian Carter (So., F): 41 pts. (5.9 avg.), 37.2 FG pct., 28 reb. (4.0 avg.), 16 ast., 10 blk., 3 stl.
Series Information: A&M-Commerce and Drury meet for the 10th time overall and the second time this season Saturday after the Panthers defeated the Lions 87-74 in Springfield, Mo., back on November 19th. Desmond King posted a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds, but a 20-1 Drury run in the second half proved to be the difference. It was the first meeting between the two since a pair of meetings in 1994-95 in which the teams split the meetings.
Hambrick Closing In on 200 Career Three-Pointers
Senior Brad Hambrick has been a constant in the Lion lineup for the past three seasons, and in the season opener of his fourth season in an A&M-Commerce uniform, he cemented his legacy in the Lion record book. Hambrick came into the season tied with Kevin Widemond (2006-08) for first all-time in career three-pointers made at 167, then moved squarely into first place with his three in the opening half at Southern Arkansas. On the season, Hambrick has hit 15-of-26 three-pointers, upping his career total to 182 and sitting 18 shy of 200 for his Lion career.
N'doye Emerging As Defensive Threat For Lions
Junior Mouhamadou N'doye has started to come into his own as a defensive stopper for A&M-Commerce. The 7-0 junior transfer has played in five games for the Lions, notching seven blocks in 53 minutes of work. N'doye had his best game in a Lion uniform in the Lone Star Conference opener against Midwestern State, blocking a career-best four shots against the Mustangs, and currently ranks third in the LSC in blocks per game (1.4). N'doye has also been productive on the offensive end, hitting all six shots he's taken on the year, averaging just under three points per game.
Looking Ahead
A&M-Commerce closes out its brief two-game homestand, hosting Southern Arkansas at the Field House at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 13. The Lions then head to Austin for the 2011 St. Edward's Classic, playing a pair of neutral site contests. A&M-Commerce meets up with Harding at 6 p.m. Sunday, December 18 before taking on Henderson State at 2 p.m. Monday, December 19. Those will mark the final A&M-Commerce games of the 2011 calendar year as the Lions will have a two-and-a-half-week Holiday break before resuming its schedule at West Texas on January 4, 2012.
For the complete weekly release, click the PDF link above.