A&M-C Claims First Championship Since 2005

Lone Star Conference Player of the Year Darrell Williams posted a double-double, while teammate Anthony Adams poured in 18 points – all in the second half – as Texas A&M-Commerce claimed the Lone Star Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament championship with a 68-61 victory against Angelo State on Saturday evening in front of a crowd of 2,022 at Allen Event Center.

      A&M-C (24-7) won its fourth overall LSC tourney title and first since 2005, doing so as the event’s No. 4 seed. The Lions knocked off the top two seeds, Tarleton State and ASU, in back-to-back games. ASU (26-5), playing in its first title game since 2001, was fueled by Marsell Holden’s game-high 22 points.

      Williams, who finished with 15 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. It was his LSC-leading 22nd double double of the season. A&M-C’s Adams and LaDon Carnegie also earned all-tournament honors, as well as ASU’s Chris Jones and Demario Mayfield.

      After a cold-shooting first half – both teams below 29 percent from the floor – A&M-C headed into the locker room with a 20-18 lead. ASU had a hot-hand after the break, building up a 28-22 lead with 16:58 to play.

      A&M-C climbed right back, tying it 28-28 less than 1 minute later thanks to a Williams bucket and free throw, and a Carnegie 3-pointer. The Lions and Rams continued to battle back and forth, changing leads until A&M-C went on a 15-5 run to go up 51-44 with 7:36 left.

      The Lions continued to surge, compiling their largest lead of the game, 60-48, on an Adams jumper with 2:58 to play.

      With no timeouts left, ASU managed to narrow its deficit to 65-61 with 24 seconds remaining as Holden nailed a deep 3-pointer. However, two free throws by Carnegie and another by Eddie Leal secured the victory for the Lions.

      Carnegie finished with 14 points – connecting on four of five 3-point attempts – and Adams dished out four assists. Everett Pleasant added nine points for A&M-C. Mayfield had 10 points and six boards for ASU, while Jones totaled a game-high eight assists and Bilal Richardson blocked three shots.

2015 Lone Star Conference Championship All-Tournament Team
Demario Mayfield, Angelo State
Chris Jones, Angelo State
LaDon Carnegie, Texas A&M-Commerce
Anthony Adams, Texas A&M-Commerce
MVP – Darrell Williams, Texas A&M-Commerce

Angelo State Press Conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Os4hgqXOVrE&feature=youtu.be

Texas A&M-Commerce Press Conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8woIyo0pkK4&feature=youtu.be

Texas A&M-Commerce Notes

The Lions win their first Lone Star Conference Championship in a decade, and their fourth all-time. They have now taken home titles in 2015, 2005, and back to back in 1977 and 1978.
Darrell Williams logged the 22nd double-double of the season with a 15 point, 13 rebound performance.
LaDon Carnegie scored 14 points, shooting four of five from deep. It was the 19th time the senior has reached double-digit scoring this season.
Anthony Adams scored 18 points, adding four assists. It was the 18thh time Adams reached double-figures this season. Adams, Carnegie and Williams were all named to the LSC All-Tournament team.
The score at halftime was 20-18 in favor of the Lions, which is the lowest score the Lions have held an opponent to in the first half all season.
With the win, the Lions are now 28-32 all-time in the LSC Tournament, and 5-3 in LSC Tournament games held in the Allen Event Center.
This was the 88th game played between the Lions and Rams. The Lions improve their record to 46-42 in the series.
Head coach Sam Walker moves to 250-179 overall.

Angelo State Notes

ASU dropped to 3-4 in tournament championship games
ASU has won three LSC tournament titles (1984, 1988, 1989)
Angelo State is now 18-25 all-time at the LSC tournament in 28 trips.
Angelo State is 26-5 overall, which is the most wins in program history