After a tough battle on the home court and leading for the majority of the game, UAFS men's basketball team has lost the first game of the weekend as the Lions fell to the Aggies of Cameron University by the score of 70-68. Lions led by 14 towards the end of the first half, but the Aggies never gave up and kept fighting back until the very end. UAFS was led by Brian Halums who scored 20 points on 3-13 shooting from the field, 0-5 from the three point line and 14-18 from the free throw line. He also grabbed eight rebounds but that was not enough for the Lions to win the battle on the boards (34-40).

The Lions are now 7-11 overall on the season and 3-9 in conference play. With this win the Aggies have taken the lead in all-time series against the Lions by 2-1. 

Coach Boone shared his thoughts on tonight's loss, "We had an 11-point lead begriming of the second half and worked hard to get ourselves in bonus, but we stopped attacking the paint and settled for quick jump shots." Boone also understands that although his team lost, there is a lesson hidden, "As a part of the learning process we have to understand how to win the games. Those are the things that we need to take from this game to learn, to improve, and get better. It is a process and it is hard to win. We definitely look forward to getting back at it on Saturday." 

Offensively, the Lions scored 68 points while shooting 35.2 percent from the field, only 19 percent from the three point line and 78.8 percent from the free throw line. The Lions were led in scoring by Brian Halums (20) while Chris Rollins and Matthew Wilson added 13 points each. As a team the Lions recorded 12 assists , led by Charles Botchway with seven. The Lions drew 22 fouls, of which 12 were drawn by Halums. 

On the defensive end UAFS allowed Aggies 70 points on 42.6 percent shooting from the field, sizzling 41.7 percent shooting from downtown (10-24) and 80 percent from the free throw line. The Lions lost the rebounding battle at 34 rebounds, and were led by Halums and Rollins with eight each. UAFS also forced 12 turnovers while only committing six. The Lions had six steals and were led by Wilson and Botchway with two each. 

The Lions will be back in Gayle Kaundart Arena in Stubblefield Center at 4 p.m. on Saturday as a part of the NABC's "Suits and Sneakers" week to take on Midwestern State in the second game of the weekend.  Live video broadcast and live stats will be available for this game at UAFS Men's Basketball Schedule and on Fox Sports 103.5 FM and 101.1 FM. Tickets for these games are on sale now and available at the UAFS Box Office located within the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center or by phone at 479-788-7300.