COMMERCE, Texas – What looked like a shootout in the first ten minutes of the game turned into a convincing 73-62 win for No. 18 Texas A&M University-Commerce (12-1, 5-0 LSC), as Texas A&M University-Kingsville (9-5, 2-2 LSC) dropped its fourth consecutive game on Thursday night at the Field House.

Will West led the Javelinas with 13 points and was two points shy of matching his season-best. Derrick Byrd finished with 11 points behind three triples, while both Robert Stevenson and Johnnathan Lindsey logged nine points.

Willie Rooks led a trio of Lions in double-figures, scoring a game-high of 19 points and shot 7-of-11 from the floor. Reggie Reid poured in 16 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out three assists and Aaron Horne concluded with 11 points.      

First Half 
The first stanza featured ten lead changes and ten made three-pointers between the two clubs. However, Commerce clamped down on defense as TAMUK went on a five-minute scoring drought which helped the Lions gain a 35-25 edge with 4:47 left on the clock. Jacolby Harris put the Javelinas back on the board with a lay-in, but the home team scored five unanswered points and led by as many as 12 down the stretch. Kingsville would get an emotional lift after a two-handed flush by Stevenson, but would still trail by double-figures at the half, 41-31. 

West led the Javelinas with seven points at the half, followed by six points from Caelan Neal and Lindsey. 
 
Second Half 
After a pair of made free throws by Rooks to start the second half, Byrd recorded his first points from the game with a three-ball and then hit another a couple of possessions later to cut the Lions' lead to 44-37. Unfortunately, the Lions would stretch their lead back to 13 behind a 6-0 run, and expanded the margin 67-45 with 7:32 left to play. The Hogs ended the game with a 16-2 run, but A&M-Commerce cruised to a 73-62 win.
 
Next up for Texas A&M-Kingsville will be Tarleton State on Saturday at 4 p.m. inside of Wisdom Gym. The Texans fell to #RV Angelo State tonight in a tight 73-71 contest.   
 
Become a member of the 6th Man Pack that features great benefits such as reserved chairback seating for home games and access to the 6th Man Pack Lounge at LSC doubleheaders for the 2017-18 season. The 6th Man Pack Lounge will be catered by Fatman's Meat Market. For more information on joining the team, contact the ticket office at 361-593-4030. 

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