RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Mark Ogden Jr. (Spring Valley, CA/Steele Canyon) scored 16 points and Collin Woods (Scottsdale, AZ/Horizon) added 14 points off the bench as No. 17 Dixie State dropped a 74-64 decision to Texas A&M-Commerce in the Ayres Thanksgiving Classic Final hosted by California Baptist.
 
Four Lions (5-2) scored in double figures, led by 14 points each from LaDon Carnegie and Darrell Williams, who added a team-high nine rebounds in the first ever meeting between the two schools on the hardwood.
 
Ogden connected on 8 of 11 shots from the floor for the Red Storm (2-2) while pulling down eight boards. Woods added five assists and four rebounds in 30 minutes of play. Zach Robbins (Upland, CA/Upland) had 10 rebounds while fellow senior DeQuan Thompson (Las Vegas, NV/Lake Mead Christian Academy) scored 11 points.
 
Commerce led Dixie State for most of the game, using the 3-point shot and offensive rebounds to their advantage. Eight connections from distance in the first half opened a 39-31 lead by halftime and 21 offensive rebounds led to 11 extra possessions throughout the game.
 
Dixie State opened the second half on a 6-2 run on a pair of Woods jumpers and a net-ripping shot from Thompson to cut the led to four. The Lions responded with a 7-0 scoring run that pushed the lead to 48-37.
 
The Storm would claw back within five points, 58-53, with five minutes left, but a steady dose of TAMC free throws iced away the game.
 
DSU shot 43 percent from the field (28-65), but hit only 5 of 15 shots from distance and turned the ball over 14 times.
 
Dixie State will return to action against Point Loma on Thursday, Dec. 4, in San Diego to open Pacific West Conference play.