LIONS BATTLE FOR POSTSEASON BERTH AGAINST WILDCATS, RAMS
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| A&M-Commerce (9-16 (4-13 LSC)) | 33 | 42 | 75 |
| Abilene Christian (12-15 (4-13 LSC)) | 31 | 41 | 72 |
| Abilene, TX (Moody Coliseum) | |||
| A&M-Commerce | Abilene Christian |
|---|---|
| Pts: 2 Players (#32, #1 - 17) | Pts: BELL, Antonio - 23 |
| Reb: TEAM - 7 | Reb: 2 Players (#14, #05 - 5) |
| Ast: Brad Hambrick - 4 | Ast: DURANT, Kendall - 5 |
| Team Statistics | A&M-Commerce | Abilene Christian |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 44.4% (20-45 ) | 44.6% (25-56 ) |
| Rebounds | 34 | 30 |
| Assists | 9 | 12 |
| Turnovers | 25 | 19 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 15 | 16 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 9 | 12 |
| Pts in the Paint | 16 | 18 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 0 | 2 |
| Bench Pts | 24 | 20 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angelo State (11-17, 4-14 LSC) | 30 | 48 | 78 |
| A&M-Commerce (10-16, 5-13 LSC) | 49 | 34 | 83 |
| Commerce, Texas/ The Field House | |||
| Angelo State | A&M-Commerce |
|---|---|
| Pts: HUCKABY, LaDonn - 39 | Pts: Devondrick Walker - 24 |
| Reb: KING-GILCHRIST, J - 8 | Reb: Devondrick Walker - 6 |
| Ast: KING-GILCHRIST, J - 8 | Ast: Esteban Arriola - 5 |
| Team Statistics | Angelo State | A&M-Commerce |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 45.3% (24-53 ) | 48.9% (23-47 ) |
| Rebounds | 28 | 28 |
| Assists | 18 | 19 |
| Turnovers | 12 | 11 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 13 | 12 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 7 | 8 |
| Pts in the Paint | 18 | 24 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 4 | 4 |
| Bench Pts | 8 | 26 |
A&M-Commerce Lions at Abilene Christian Wildcats
Wednesday, February 22 · 7:30 p.m.
Moody Coliseum · Abilene, Texas
Records: A&M-Commerce (8-16, 3-13 LSC); Abilene Christian (12-14, 4-12 LSC)
A&M-Commerce Lions vs. Angelo State Rams
Saturday, February 25 · 8 p.m.
The Field House · Commerce, Texas
Records: A&M-Commerce (8-16, 3-13 LSC); Angelo State (11-15, 4-12 LSC)
Radio: KETR 88.9 FM (online at KETR.org)
Live Video: ACUSports.com (Abilene Christian game Wednesday)
Live Stats: LionAthletics.com
Opening Tip
The 2011-12 regular season heads into its final week with A&M-Commerce fighting for its postseason life. The Lions take direct aim on the two teams ahead of them in the Lone Star Conference standings, beginning with a 7:30 p.m. showdown with Abilene Christian on Wednesday at 7:30 at Moody Coliseum. A&M-Commerce then returns to the Field House for the final home game of the season, facing Angelo State Saturday at 8 p.m.
Lions on the Web
A&M-Commerce fans can keep up with every basket this week by following their Lion basketball team online. J.P. Heath will call both games against the Wildcats and Rams on KETR 88.9 FM or online at KETR.org. Live stats of both games will be available at LionAthletics.com with the game at Abilene Christian available at ACUSports.com.
Quest For Allen Enters Home Stretch
With one week remaining in the 2011-12 regular season, A&M-Commerce enters the week in 10th-place in the Lone Star Conference standings, sitting at 3-13 in conference play. The Lions trail both Abilene Christian and Angelo State (4-12) by one game for the eighth spot in the standings, with the top eight teams qualifying for the LSC Championships in Allen February 29 through March 3. To qualify for the tournament, A&M-Commerce will need to defeat both the Wildcats and Rams, and hope for a Tarleton State victory against both teams.
Lion Seniors Honored Saturday
With Saturday's game against Angelo State marking the final home game of the 2011-12 season, A&M-Commerce will pay tribute to the three seniors in its lineup. Guards Brad Hambrick and LaBree Sledge and forward Desmond King will be recognized for their contributions to the Lion basketball program with a short ceremony prior to the opening tip.
Scouting the Wildcats
2011-12: 12-14 overall, 4-12 Lone Star Conference (T-8th), 10-5 home.
Streak: Won One. Last Three Games: W vs. Eastern New Mexico (79-68), L at Incarnate Word (79-73), W vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville (80-70).
Head Coach: Joe Golding (Abilene Christian, '99). First season at Abilene Christian (12-14, .462).
Key Wildcat Players:
· Antonio Bell (Jr., G): 326 pts. (12.5 avg.), 42.8 FG pct., 40.4 3FG pct., 75 ast., 29 stl.
· Kendall Durant (Jr., G): 313 pts. (12.0 avg.), 39.8 FG pct., 32.0 3FG pct., 85 reb. (3.3 avg.), 57 ast., 28 stl.
· Zach Williams (Sr., G): 308 pts. (11.8 avg.), 43.0 FG pct., 109 reb. (4.2 avg.), 33 ast., 18 blk., 30 stl.
· Eric Kibi (Sr., F): 157 pts. (8.7 avg.), 61.0 FG pct., 109 reb. (6.1 avg.), 9 stl.
· Armani Williams (Jr., G): 155 pts. (8.6 avg.), 38.5 FG pct., 38.5 3FG pct., 10 ast., 7 stl.
Series Information: The series between A&M-Commerce and Abilene Christian is the second-longest in Lion basketball history as the two teams have met on the court 91 times in the series history with A&M-Commerce holding a 53-38 edge. Abilene Christian has won the last two meetings between the two, including a 92-79 overtime decision against the Lions at the Field House back on January 11. A&M-Commerce is 6-4 in the last 10 meetings between the two but are 3-5 at Moody Coliseum under head coach Sam Walker.
Walker Against the Wildcats: 11-7 overall (.611); 7-2 home, 3-5 road, 1-0 neutral.
Scouting the Rams
2011-12: 11-15 overall, 4-12 Lone Star Conference (T-8th), 0-10 away.
Streak: Won One. Last Three Games: L vs. West Texas A&M (61-56), L at Texas A&M-Kingsville (82-71), W vs. Incarnate Word (68-65). Angelo State hosts Tarleton State Wednesday, February 22.
Head Coach: Fred Rike (West Texas A&M, '89). Sixth season at Angelo State (85-78, .521).
Key Ram Players:
· Keenen Coleman (Jr., G): 355 pts. (15.4 avg.), 36.6 FG pct., 32.1 3FG pct., 123 reb. (5.3 avg.), 73 ast., 29 stl.
· Hanif Nixon-Hughes (Jr., G/F): 255 pts. (11.1 avg.), 48.0 FG pct., 124 reb. (5.4 avg.), 41 ast., 13 stl.
· Javae King-Gilchrist (Jr., G): 280 pts. (10.8 avg.), 42.2 FG pct., 30.8 3FG pct., 113 reb. (4.3 avg.), 89 ast., 22 stl.
· LaDonn Huckaby (Sr., F): 147 pts. (10.5 avg.), 38.8 FG pct., 37.1 3FG pct., 66 reb. (4.7 avg.), 25 ast., 13 stl., 5 blk.
· Joey Lenox (Sr., G): 183 pts. (7.0 avg.), 37.9 FG pct., 36.5 3FG pct., 77.3 FT pct., 37 ast., 18 stl.
Series Information: Saturday marks the 78 th meeting between A&M-Commerce and Angelo State with the Lions holding a slim 40-37 lead in the all-time series. Angelo State took an 87-67 victory in San Angelo on January 14, snapping a two-game losing streak to A&M-Commerce, but the Lions have had the upper hand in recent years, posting a 7-3 record in the last 10 meetings against the Rams. A&M-Commerce has been especially though against Angelo State at the Field House, winning six of the last seven meetings against the Rams in Commerce.
Walker Against the Rams: 9-8 overall (.529); 6-2 home, 3-6 road.
Tale of Two Courts
Both Abilene Christian and Angelo State have a common trend of being hard to beat on their home courts but struggling to find their groove on the road. The Wildcats have posted a 10-5 record at Moody Coliseum but are just 2-8 away from Abilene, including 1-7 in Lone Star Conference play. The Rams have been even more streaky, posting a 9-4 mark at the Junell Center but have yet to win a road game this season, sitting at 0-10 on the year.
Lions Still Seeking First Win Against Texas Team
Entering the final weekend of the season, A&M-Commerce continues to seek its first victory of the year against a Lone Star state opponent. The Lions are 8-3 on the year against teams outside the state of Texas, including a pair of wins over Southern Arkansas and Eastern New Mexico, with victories against Arkansas-Fort Smith, Harding, Henderson State and Cameron. But A&M-Commerce is 0-13 against teams from the state of Texas on the year, which also extends to the Lion football and women's basketball programs. If A&M-Commerce wants to make the Lone Star Conference Championship in Allen, it will need to figure out a way to get a pair of victories against Lone Star state opponents (Abilene Christian and Angelo State).
