COMMERCE, Texas (Interstat) — Tahj Staveskie scored 33 points to guide Incarnate Word to an 82-73 victory over Texas A&M-Commerce in a Southland Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Texas A&M-Commerce Field House. The Cardinals led 43-39 at halftime and maintained their advantage throughout the second half before an announced crowd of 634. Staveskie added five assists in 38 minutes. Davion Bailey added 18 points for Incarnate Word, which improved to 11-17. Noah Pagotto led the Lions with 26 points. Texas A&M-Commerce, which fell to 11-18, also got 18 points from Ronnie Harrison and 15 from Vinny Sigona. The result reversed a Jan. 19 meeting, which Texas A&M-Commerce won by 22 points.

COMMERCE, Texas (Interstat) — Tahj Staveskie scored 33 points and Incarnate Word rode a blistering first-half shooting performance to an 82-73 victory over Texas A&M-Commerce in a Southland Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Texas A&M-Commerce Field House. The Cardinals avenged a 22-point loss to the Lions from just over a month ago by building a lead they would never relinquish with a near-perfect offensive display in the opening period. Incarnate Word shot 50% from the field in the first half, including 8 of 15 from 3-point range, and made all eight of its free throws to take a 43-39 lead into halftime. Staveskie, a 6-foot guard from Sandusky, Ohio, was the catalyst, scoring 19 of his points before the break. He finished the game shooting 10 of 19 from the field and a perfect 9 for 9 from the free-throw line, adding five assists in 38 minutes. His performance snapped a three-game losing streak for the Cardinals and marked a season-high in scoring, surpassing his previous best of 16 points. The most important stretch of the game came early in the second half as Incarnate Word withstood every push from the home team. Texas A&M-Commerce, led by Noah Pagotto’s 26 points and 18 from Ronnie Harrison, cut the deficit to 50-48 with 15:59 remaining after a Pagotto dunk. The Cardinals responded immediately with a 3-pointer from Love Bettis. When the Lions again closed to within 59-58 on a Vinny Sigona 3-pointer with 9:11 left, Staveskie answered with two free throws to spark a critical 7-0 run that gave Incarnate Word a 66-58 cushion with 7:13 to play. Texas A&M-Commerce never got closer than five points the rest of the way. The Lions had several opportunities in the final minutes but missed five consecutive field goal attempts and two free throws during a crucial stretch after trailing 71-68. Incarnate Word sealed the game at the foul line, making 11 of 12 free throws in the second half and 15 of 16 for the game. While Staveskie starred, he received key support from Davion Bailey, who scored 18 points, and Harold Woods, who added 14 points and played all 40 minutes. Bettis contributed eight points and three assists. The Cardinals won despite being outscored 34-22 in the paint and committing an equal number of turnovers, six apiece. The difference was shooting efficiency. Incarnate Word finished 27 of 52 from the field (51.9%) and 13 of 26 from 3-point range. Texas A&M-Commerce shot 29 of 59 (49.2%) but was just 10 of 28 from beyond the arc. The Lions also attempted only eight free throws, making five. Sigona scored 15 points for Texas A&M-Commerce, and Gianni Hunt dished out a game-high six assists. The victory improved Incarnate Word to 11-17 overall. Texas A&M-Commerce fell to 11-18. Both teams have three games remaining in the regular season. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, the Lions had been projected with a 68.5% probability to win. Incarnate Word travels to face Northwestern State on Monday. Texas A&M-Commerce hosts Houston Christian, also on Monday.

COMMERCE, Texas (Interstat) — Two Southland Conference men’s basketball teams looking to build momentum will meet Saturday when Texas A&M-Commerce hosts Incarnate Word at the Texas A&M-Commerce Field House. The Lions (11-17) enter on the heels of a 70-53 home victory over Southeastern Louisiana on Monday, a defensive performance they hope to replicate. The win snapped a two-game skid. Forward Noah Pagotto has been a consistent presence, coming off a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds in that contest. Over his last eight games, Pagotto is averaging 11.1 points and 6.4 rebounds. The visiting Cardinals (10-17) seek to end a four-game losing streak, most recently falling 78-64 to New Orleans on Monday. Their offense runs through guard Davion Bailey, who scored 19 points in that loss. Bailey is averaging 17.5 points per game over his last eight contests, including a 36-point outburst in a win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Feb. 2. This matchup is a quick rematch from Jan. 19, when Texas A&M-Commerce dominated Incarnate Word 80-58 in San Antonio. The Lions’ defense held the Cardinals to 32.8% shooting from the field in that meeting. Both teams are near the bottom of the conference standings and will be battling for positioning ahead of the Southland tournament. Texas A&M-Commerce has shown an ability to protect its home floor recently, winning two of its last three in Commerce. Incarnate Word, however, has lost seven of its last eight games overall and will need a strong road performance to reverse its fortunes. The game tips off at 4:30 p.m. CST Saturday.