For East Texas A&M Lion Basketball in the late 1990’s, it was a time of change for the Lion program. After 2 years of positive momentum and winning the Lone Star Conference and making the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history in 1996, Paul Peak & his Lions the change and went down roads that no Lion team had ever been down before.

For the first time since 1991, the Lions were defending LSC champs, and for the first time since 1979, ET was looking at trying to repeat going to the national postseason. It had truly been a long time since The Lions had been a dominant LSC team and were still trying to find their way in the NCAA Division II scene.

Another thing had changed, East Texas State was no longer East Texas State. East Texas State joined the Texas A&M University System and had changed their name to Texas A&M University-Commerce. ETSU was no more, and the Fieldhouse changed floor logos from the vaunted and beloved ET logo at center court to a large C with an A&M wrapped underneath it. This was certainly uncharted territory.

However, Paul Peek had his team ready to go and from the jump, showed they were looking to go where no Lion team had gone in a very long time.

The newly minted A&M-Commerce Lions started their season 14 of their first 15 games, putting all of Division II on notice. Then, they met up with a foe that really took the wind out of their sails in Central Oklahoma as they lost to the Bronchos by 12, and then that bad play carried onto road losses against Texas A&M-Kingsville and Midwestern State. TAMUC rebounded to win 6 of their next 7 games, including a 100-90 revenge game in Commerce against Central Oklahoma, and closed out their season with a win against Red River Rival Southeastern Oklahoma and a head scratching loss to Tarleton State.

The Lions finished 2nd in the LSC standings while Central Oklahoma took the regular season title. In the LSC tournament in Edmond, OK the Lions dropped West Texas A&M 87-67, setting them up with a rematch against Central Oklahoma once again with a berth to the LSC title game on the line. This time, the Lions fell short yet again in the LSC semis, and had to wait on the Division II committee to hope that a season that had been so promising would not come to an end.

For the second time in the NCAA Division II era and the first time since the 1970’s under Jim Gudger, the Lions were headed back to the dance, and would have a chance to head back to Edmond to face off against Central Oklahoma and avenge their losses from earlier in the season. The field was still at 48 teams but the Lions drew a first round matchup with Central Missouri State, the Lions scored early and often and held off Central Missouri St 80-74, winning their first ever NCAA Basketball tournament game. Waiting for them was second seeded Washburn, and once again the Lions hit the 80 point mark and defeated the Ichabods (Yes, that is their name), 80-75, giving them their deepest run in the NCAA era. There would be no rematch with Central Oklahoma, as the Bronchos lost to Pittsburg State in the Regional semis, and it was the Pittsburg State Gorillas wating for TAMUC.

There was so much on the line for The Lions. School history, a Regional Championship, and a trip to the Elite 8, the first time in 19 years that would have happened.

Peek had his team ready, and they delivered a stunning performance as they shot lights out and kept their foot on the gas, defeated the Gorillas of Pittsburg State, 89-83. The Lions were South Central Regional Champions, and had punched their ticket to the Elite 8, the first time they had been to any Elite 8 since 1978. It has been a long time coming.

The scene shifted the Commonwealth Convention Center in Louisville, Kentucky where top ranked Northern Kentucky was the first team up. The Norsemen were a great team and had national title aspirations, and it showed, as they showed that they were just too much for the Lions, defeating them 79-58.

Despite the tough loss, it was nothing to be ashamed of. It was the best season the Lions had in 19 years and the deepest postseason run to this day they have had since joining the NCAA. Northern Kentucky would go on to lose in the national championship game by 1 point to Cal State-Bakersfield.

The Lions went back to back in NCAA tournament apperances, won their first and only regional championship, and reached the furthest in their NCAA era. It was a terrific season that would set the stage for the future of Lion Basketball.

1996-1997 Texas A&M Commerce Lions

NCAA Division II South Central Regional Champions