CRUCIAL WEEK AHEAD FOR A&M-COMMERCE FACING BUFFS, GREYHOUNDS

Brad Hambrick

Final	1	2	OT	T
A&M-Commerce (8-16; LSC 3-13)	33	25	9	67
Eastern New Mexico (13-12; LSC 6-10)	27	31	4	62
Portales, NM (Greyhound Arena)

A&M-Commerce	Eastern New Mexico
Pts: 2 Players (#1, #44 - 15)	Pts: WILKINSON, Curtis - 14
Reb: Desmond King - 8	Reb: WILKINSON, Curtis - 13
Ast: Esteban Arriola - 6	Ast: DAVIS, Devone - 5

Team Statistics	A&M-Commerce	Eastern New Mexico
Field Goal %	42.6% (23-54 )	37.1% (23-62 )
Rebounds	35	44
Assists	12	10
Turnovers	20	21
Pts off Turnovers	21	20
2nd Chance Pts	6	11
Pts in the Paint	26	30
Fastbreak Pts	5	11
Bench Pts	14	7

full stats

Final	1	2	T
West Texas A&M (15-6, 9-5 LSC)	38	32	70
A&M-Commerce (7-15, 2-12 LSC)	25	35	60
Commerce, Texas/ The Field House

West Texas A&M	A&M-Commerce
Pts: WASHINGTON, Kennon - 16	Pts: Preston Whitley - 19
Reb: SIMS, Donald - 12	Reb: 2 Players (#5, #22 - 5)
Ast: FOSTER, Lionel - 10	Ast: Brad Hambrick - 4

Team Statistics	West Texas A&M	A&M-Commerce
Field Goal %	40.4% (21-52 )	32.7% (16-49 )
Rebounds	44	28
Assists	16	12
Turnovers	14	13
Pts off Turnovers	13	8
2nd Chance Pts	9	14
Pts in the Paint	24	12
Fastbreak Pts	8	3
Bench Pts	18	3

full stats

A&M-Commerce Lions vs. West Texas A&M Buffs
Wednesday, February 15 • 8 p.m.
The Field House • Commerce, Texas
Records: A&M-Commerce (7-15, 2-12 LSC); West Texas A&M (15-6, 9-5 LSC)

A&M-Commerce Lions at Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds
Saturday, February 18 • 5 p.m.
Greyhound Arena • Portales, N.M.
Records: A&M-Commerce (7-15, 2-12 LSC); Eastern New Mexico (13-10, 6-8 LSC)

Radio: KETR 88.9 FM (listen online at KETR.org)
Live Stats: LionAthletics.com
A&M-Commerce Weekly Game Notes (PDF)

Opening Tip
A&M-Commerce faces a crucial week as the 2011-12 season nears the finish line. The Lions, who begin the week one game out of eighth-place in the Lone Star Conference standings, host third-place West Texas A&M at the Field House Wednesday at 8 p.m. A&M-Commerce then makes the daunting trip west, facing sixth-place Eastern New Mexico on Saturday, February 18, tipping at 5 p.m.

Lions On The Web
A&M-Commerce basketball fans unable to see their Lions in person can still keep up with every basket this week. J.P. Heath will call A&M-Commerce’s double header against West Texas A&M with Scott Harvey taking the reigns for the games at Eastern New Mexico Saturday. The games can be heard live on KETR 88.9 FM or online at KETR.org. Live stats will also be available at LionAthletics.com.

Quest For Allen Enters Home Stretch
With four games remaining in the 2011-12 season, A&M-Commerce faces a crucial two weeks as it continues its quest to qualify for the 2012 Lone Star Conference Championships at the Allen Special Events Center. The Lions enter the week in 10th-place in the conference standings, sitting at 2-12 in LSC play and trailing eighth-place Abilene Christian and Angelo State (3-11) by one game. A&M-Commerce faces both the Wildcats and Rams in the season’s final week, and will likely need some help to move up into the top-eight in the standings.

Lone Star Conference Standings (Through Games of Feb. 13)

Scouting the Buffaloes
2011-12: 15-6 overall, 9-5 Lone Star Conference (3rd), 6-3 road.
Streak: Won Three. Last Three Games: W vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville (69-40), W vs. Abilene Christian (57-49), W at Angelo State (61-56).
Head Coach: Rick Cooper (Wayland Baptist, ‘81). 19th season at West Texas (365-178, .672); 25th season overall (517-225, .697).
Buffalo Key Players:
• Donald Sims (Jr., F): 302 pts. (14.4 avg.), 64.6 FG pct., 210 reb. (9.6 avg.), 16 ast., 13 blk., 27 stl.
• Kennon Washington (Jr., G): 290 pts. (13.8 avg.), 47.2 FG pct., 33.9 3FG pct., 93 reb. (4.4 avg.), 48 ast.
• Courtney Carr (Sr., F): 217 pts. (10.3 avg.), 64.4 FG pct., 114 reb. (5.4 avg.), 22 blk., 18 stl.
• Lionel Foster (Sr., G): 155 pts. (9.1 avg.), 38.5 FG pct., 76.7 FT pct, 54 reb. (3.2 avg.), 131 ast., 36 stl.
• Tez Dumars (Fr., G): 166 pts. (7.9 avg.), 42.0 FG pct., 36.4 3FG pct., 46 reb. (2.2 avg.), 29 ast., 10 stl.
Series Information: A&M-Commerce and West Texas A&M meet for the 75th time Wednesday evening with the Buffaloes holding a 46-28 edge in the all-time series. West Texas has won the last three meetings, including a come-from-behind 77-72 victory over the Lions on January 4, and are 7-3 in the last 10 meetings against A&M-Commerce, including a thrilling 76-75 victory over A&M-Commerce at the Field House in 2010-11. A&M-Commerce is 3-6 against the Buffs at the Field House under head coach Sam Walker, winning two of the last four meetings in Commerce.
Walker Against the Buffaloes: 6-14 overall (.300). 3-6 home, 2-8 road, 1-0 neutral.

Scouting the Greyhounds
2011-12: 13-10 overall, 6-8 Lone Star Conference (6th), 8-1 home.
Streak: Lost Two. Last Three Games: W vs. Incarnate Word (75-57), L at Angelo State (70-62), L at Abilene Christian (79-68). Eastern New Mexico plays at Tarleton State Wednesday, Feb. 15.
Head Coach: Andrew Helton (Miami, ‘92). Third season at Eastern New Mexico (35-30, .538).
Greyhound Key Players:
• Reggie Nelson (Sr., G): 373 pts. (16.2 avg.), 50.4 FG pct., 44.4 3FG pct., 87.6 FT pct., 66 ast., 28 stl.
• Stefan Mirabal (Sr., G): 249 pts. (11.3 avg.), 36.0 FG pct., 33.3 3FG pct., 35 ast., 22 stl.
• Curtis Wilkinson (Sr., F): 184 pts. (10.8 avg.), 65.7 FG pct., 113 reb. (6.6 avg.), 31 blk., 11 stl.
• Aaron Edwards (Sr., F): 181 pts. (8.6 avg.), 51.2 FG pct., 34.6 3FG pct., 102 reb. (4.9 avg.), 12 blk.
• Devone Davis (Jr., G): 179 pts. (8.1 avg.), 47.4 FG pct., 69 reb. (3.1 avg.), 75 ast., 46 stl.
Series Information: Saturday marks the 53rd meeting between A&M-Commerce and Eastern New Mexico with the Lions holding a 35-17 edge, including an nine-game winning streak against the Greyhounds. A&M-Commerce defeated Eastern New Mexico 88-77 back on January 7, its fifth-straight win over the Greyhounds at the Field House. The Lions head into the weekend with a four-game winning streak at Greyhound Arena with A&M-Commerce’s last loss in Portales coming in a 90-75 defeat in 2004.
Walker Against the Greyhounds: 13-4 overall (.765). 7-2 home, 6-2 road.

King Notches Third Double-Double of Season Against Javelinas
Senior Desmond King did all he could do for A&M-Commerce against A&M-Kingsville Monday evening, recording his third double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds, including five offensive boards. The 2011-12 Lone Star Conference Preseason Player of the Year has had another solid season for the Lions, leading A&M-Commerce in both points (15.6) and rebounds (5.8) per game while ranking among the conference leaders in a handful of categories. King recorded a career-high 34 points against Abilene Christian on January 11 and also notched double-doubles at Drury (23 pts., 11 reb.) and against Henderson State (30 pts., 12 reb.) on the season. King was named the Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week on December 21 after being named the MVP of the St. Edward’s Classic.

Looking Ahead
A&M-Commerce’s postseason fate will come down to the final week of the season as the Lions will go head-to-head against the two teams it needs to overcome in order to make the 2012 Lone Star Conference Championships in Allen. A&M-Commerce travels to Abilene Christian for a showdown with the Wildcats on Wednesday, February 22 at 8 p.m. The Lions then close out the season at home facing Angelo State on Saturday, February 25 as seniors Brad Hambrick, Desmond King and LaBree Sledge will be recognized on Senior Day.

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