Denver, Colorado

Texas A&M-Commerce landed four players in double figures but could not overcome the 31 points scored by Kyle Pape of Colorado School of Mines in an 84-80 loss in the opening round of 2006 Metro State Basketball Tournament.

Junior Kevin Widemond led the Lions with 21 points, including a 5-for-8 effort from beyond-the-arc; plus, Champ Sylvester scored 16 off the bench and Leonard Bishop tallied 12 and Lamar Searight added 10 in the loss. The loss drops the Lions to 6-5 on the season and Colorado School of Mines raises their record to 6-3. In addition to the 31 from Pape, the Orediggers' got 17 apiece from Ian Elseth and Franklin Ryk in the win.

After the Lions' Lance Jackson hit a jumper to trim the Colorado School of the Mines lead to 15-13 with 12:39 left in the opening half, the Orediggers went on a 13-2 run over the next 5 minutes to take control of the opening stanza. Sylvester brought Texas A&M-Commerce back, making four three pointers in the first half, but CSM held a 47-35 lead at the half. In the opening half, CSM made 54.5% of their shots and Pape scored 19 of his game-high 31 to lead the Orediggers.

Midway through the second half, three-straight three pointers on three-consecutive possessions got Texas A&M-Commerce within two, 59-57, with 11:14 left in the game. However, the Lions could not get any closer than four down the stretch. In the second half, Widemond scored 14 on four trifectas and Bishop added 12 on a pair of three pointers. In the second half, Texas A&M-Commerce shot 54.8% from the field and senior Brad Brickens dished out six of his 10 assists.

The Lions will wrap up the two-day tournament on Saturday, taking on host No. 17 Metro State at 8 p.m. (CST).