Texas A&M University-Commerce used a ten to nothing run just before the under 16th minute media timeout to put distance between themselves and Oklahoma Panhandle State on Sunday, Nov. 10 to start the season 2-0 and cruise to an 89-77 win.
The Lions maintained that advantage through the duration of the game. The lead was extended to 15, 76-61, with just over five minutes to play off a Kenny Brown layup. Oklahoma Panhandle was never able to get the deficit back under 10 for the duration of the game.
A&M-Commerce got the free throw line more often and made the most of those chances, holding a 26-14 advantage on makes and a 32-22 advantage on attempts. The Lions were also opportunistic off the Aggies turnovers with 18 points off of 11 Aggie turnovers.
LaDon Carnegie led the Lions with 25 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals. De'Andre Carson had 17, Kenny Brown had 13, Tyrie Wooten scored 11 and Kameron Price added 10. Brown also had 10 rebounds to give him a double-double for the Lions.
Carnegie and Carson were both named to the All-Classic Team after their performances over the weekend versus UTPB and Oklahoma Panhandle.
A&M-Commerce started fast, opening a 15-4 lead in less than four minutes to start the game. The Aggies went on a run of their own to cut the lead to two less than three minutes later. The Lions then strung the lead back out to eight at 23-15 after a free throw from Wooten. Panhandle State battled back and eventually took a 28-26 lead off a Bill Lee three pointer.
The Lions were playing catch up until the 3:42 mark when the second of two free throws from Carnegie tied the game at 43. The Aggies took the lead back on a free throw from T.J. Farrell with 1:58 to play and held the advantage going into halftime.
Carson hit a three pointer to give the Lions the lead back at 49-48 early in the second half. The Lions then went on a 10 nothing run to take a 64-54 lead capped by a Brown dunk at the 13:28 mark. That was the spark the Lions needed and the lead never dipped below double digits.
The lead got pushed to 12 at 70-58 after two free throws from Brown. A&M-Commerce eventually got the gap to 17, 80-63, with 4:55 to play. Panhandle State would run out of time while trying to get back into the game.
A&M-Commerce returns home for its home opener on Tuesday, Nov. 12 when Southern Arkansas comes to the Field House for a 7 p.m. tip.
