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<title>A&M-Commerce men's basketball team visits with students in
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<p style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Members of the
Texas A&M University-Commerce men’s basketball team and coaching staff
visited with students at Madison Middle School on Friday morning as a part of
the Lone Star Conference’s community activities in Bartlesville, Okla.<br>
<br>
While the students began packing the stands, many noticed the Lions waiting on
the sidelines and chants of “dunk it!” began to flourish. A&M-Commerce
guard Dallas Hunter obliged and jammed home a dunk to kick off the event.<br>
<br>
After Lions head coach Sam Walker found volunteers for a free throw shootout to
get the energy going, he introduced the team and began to speak about the
importance of academics.<br>
<br>
Seniors DeUndrae Spraggins, Rashad Brown, Dominique Taylor and Cedric Griffin
stepped forward and Walker pointed out that each would be graduating in the
upcoming months.<br>
<br>
“All these guys come this May or summer will have a college degree,” said
Walker. “It’s what you do in the classroom.”<br>
<br>
The team then fielded various questions from which player is the best dunker to
who can sing the best, but the topic was always brought back to the importance
of academics and where it can take you in life.<br>
<br>
“That is what school is all about…training to be a professional,” said Walker.<br>
<br>
The other seven men’s basketball teams participating in the LSC Tournament also
visited schools from around the area to “interact with the children and spread
a message of good sportsmanship, talk about the importance of teamwork and to
answer questions about college basketball,” according to the league.<br>
<br>
Despite falling in the first round of the tourney Thursday night, interacting
with students and helping to brighten their day made the Lions' loss a bit
easier.<br>
<br>
“Visiting with the kids today was a much-needed blessing,” said Spraggins. “I’m
disappointed about the game last night, but being able to be a positive
influence on the lives of today’s youth means more to me than coming up short
on the scoreboard.”<br>
<br>
Before wrapping up the event, Ronnie Morgan answered the question about who can
sing the best as he sang, “I Believe I Can Fly,” before leaving with a standing
ovation.<br>
<br>
“I just like seeing all the kids smile,” said Morgan. “Anytime you can touch
someone’s life that’s younger than you…it’s always special.”<br>
<br>
<br>
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