Feb. 18, 2006

Final Stats

COMMERCE, Texas - First place Southeastern Oklahoma (16-8, 8-2) proved that they do remain as the top team in the LSC North as they defeated A&M-Commerce (15-10, 5-5) 72-66, in front of a home crowd Saturday afternoon.

The Lions walked into the locker room at the half up 39-37 and led by as much as six in the second, until 11:18 left in the game when the Savages pulled within one on a free throw shot by Stephen Harrell after a foul was drawn on Lamar Searight. The Savages then tied the game on another free throw shot by Jason Stampley after the second foul of the half was called on Searight.

A&M-Commerce came back and regained the lead with 9:28 left on the clock and took command leading by as much as five with 8:00 left in the game. The Lions kept the lead throughout the rest of the contest until 2:38 on the clock when Eric Babers shot a jumper to tie the game, 66-66. A&M-Commerce never regained an opportunity to take control of the game as SOSU scored six points in the final two minutes to remain on top of the LSC North.

In the first half the Savages took control right at the start and led by as much as 10, 22-12, but the Lions responded back outscoring SOSU 18-9 to pull within one on a jumper by Jason Rabb for a score of 30-31. The Lions then came with 1:43 left in the first to tie the game on a lay-up by Searight, which later gave the Lions a two point edge as Searight and Martel Jones combined to score five points in the final minute of the first half.

The Lions shot well from field goal range at 42.2 percent and scored 16 points off of SOSU's turnovers, while the Savages scored eight off of A&M-Commerce's.

Searight once again led all Lion scorers recording 16 points for the night and seven rebounds. Two more Lions scored in double digits. Miller scored 14, while Jason Rabb pitched in 12 with seven boards. Senior Chris Fantroy was a bucket shy of recording his third double-double of the season, ending the night with eight points and 10 boards.

For the Savages, scoring leader Babers led the way with a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Robert Aitken tallied 16, Stampley contributed 15 and Harrel recorded 11.

The Lions will play their final home game of the season Wednesday night as they host Cameron, before finishing the 2005-06 schedule on the road against Southwestern. Wednesday will also be the final Night Out At The Field House. For tickets call the athletic department at (903) 468-3195.