CYPRESS, La. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a second-half surge and clutch late-game execution, the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions snapped a two-game skid and secured a pivotal Southland Conference road victory, edging the Northwestern State Demons 74-68 on Wednesday night at Prather Coliseum. The Lions, who improved to 9-15 overall, trailed 31-27 at halftime but erupted for 47 points in the second half, shooting with remarkable efficiency down the stretch to overcome a Northwestern State team that had been a heavy pregame favorite. The Demons fell to 6-17 with the loss. The most critical phase of the contest came in the final five minutes, as Texas A&M-Commerce transformed a narrow deficit into a working lead it would not relinquish. With the Demons holding a 64-62 advantage after a J.C. Riley layup with 5:10 remaining, the Lions embarked on a decisive 8-0 run. Damian Garcia ignited the spurt with a putback layup, and after a defensive stop, Gianni Hunt connected on a difficult stepback three-pointer to push the Lions ahead 67-64. Following another Northwestern State miss, Josh Taylor tipped in his own miss to extend the lead to five with 4:15 left. Northwestern State, led by a game-high 23 points from Micah Thomas, could not muster a response. The Demons managed just four points over the final five minutes, missing key free throws and critical shots from the field. Texas A&M-Commerce sealed the game at the foul line, with Hunt sinking two free throws with 16 seconds left to establish the final six-point margin. The Lions’ victory was built on superior shot-making from beyond the arc and at the charity stripe. Both teams finished with identical 27-of-52 shooting from the field, but Texas A&M-Commerce connected on 11 three-pointers to Northwestern State’s seven. The disparity was even more pronounced at the free-throw line, where the Lions made 9 of 10 attempts while the Demons converted only 7 of 14. Hunt and Garcia were instrumental in the Lions’ second-half turnaround. Hunt finished with 16 points, six assists and five steals, directing the offense and applying consistent defensive pressure. Garcia also scored 16 points and dished out five assists. They were complemented by efficient performances from Vinny Sigona, who scored all 16 of his points in the second half, including four three-pointers, and the interior duo of Noah Pagotto (14 points) and Josh Taylor (12 points, two blocks). For Northwestern State, Thomas shouldered the offensive load, adding two assists. Willie Williams provided 10 points and seven rebounds, while Izzy Miles contributed nine points. The Demons capitalized on Texas A&M-Commerce’s 11 turnovers, scoring 11 points off them, and held a 12-3 advantage in fastbreak points, but their inability to contain the Lions’ perimeter attack in the final period proved decisive. The game began as a defensive struggle, with both teams combining for several early turnovers and missed shots. Northwestern State used a 7-0 run late in the first half, capped by a Justin Redmond three-pointer, to take its four-point lead into the break. The Demons maintained a slim lead for much of the second half until the Lions’ late-game execution flipped the script. Texas A&M-Commerce will look to build on this win when it hosts Northwestern State again on Saturday in the back end of the home-and-home series. The Demons will aim to regroup for that rematch in Commerce.