Having spent most of his Texas A&M practices running opposing teams' offenses and defenses, junior Derrek Lewis knows the significance of a scouting report.
So Lewis got a kick out of hearing he was the one who had been scouted when he entered the game last week against the Oklahoma Sooners.
"I remember when I was coming into the game [the Sooners] were pointing at me saying 'shooter, shooter' and I don't recognize myself as that great a shooter, but it's a little bit flattering to hear that," Lewis said. "It motivates you to not only be a great shooter but to do something else that they didn't know you could do. I got two offensive rebounds like that, then they had to think about boxing me out too."
Lewis, who has never started a game for A&M, may not often get the attention of opposing coaches, but he has earned plenty of respect in his own camp.
"Our players really respect Derrek Lewis for all the work he puts in on the scout team," A&M head coach Mark Turgeon said. "He commits himself for the better of the team, and our guys are always happy for him when he gets in. He's hit some shots, and I know he's going to try and do the right things defensively. Derrek has to help us more. He has to play more."
Since the season-ending injury to starter Derrick Roland, Lewis has found himself getting more minutes while the game is still in the balance.
Lewis was 2 for 2 from the floor in A&M's recent 65-62 victory over Oklahoma, grabbing four rebounds in a season-high 9 minutes.
"I was very excited that I had a chance to play here and there and do pretty well, although there were still quite a few mistakes I made," Lewis said. "I tried to help out in some way or another. For me to come in and have still helped the team out, that was kind of a check mark to let me know that I'm giving all I got every day in practice and it's paying off."
Lewis, who played a total of 55 minutes in his first two seasons, has checked in during the first half of every game since Roland's injury, although there have been games where his time was very limited.
No matter the circumstance, the 6-foot-4 guard says he stays ready to do whatever is asked of him.
"Yes, I've been playing a little bit more, but do I feel any different? No," he said. "It's the same thing of whatever helps the team. If I need to go in, that's what I need to do, just get it done day by day. Some days that may mean being on the scout team and some days not on the scout team."
Overall, the left-handed Lewis has nearly equaled his minutes from the first two seasons combined and is shooting 50 percent from the floor and is 6 for 11 from 3-point range.
Getting on the court for a 10th straight game would have a little extra meaning for Lewis. He was an all-state performer at his high school in Tulsa, Okla., a little over an hour away from Stillwater, Okla., where the Aggies have a pivotal game against Oklahoma State on Wednesday.
"For anyone a homecoming is always fun," Lewis said. "I'd love to get in and play a few minutes here and there, but that's a side goal. I'm going up there to win. I want to let [friends and family] get a chance to see, whether I play or not, that I'm on a team that is getting the job done."
*
NOTES -- Statistically, OSU and A&M are comparable in almost every category. Both teams have nine more assists than turnovers and both shoot 44 percent from the floor. OSU shoots 33 percent from the arc, while A&M is at 32. OSU averages 37.6 rebounds a game while A&M pulls down 37.4 a game. Blocks, which A&M leads 71-49 thanks to Bryan Davis' 37 and free throw percentage, which the Cowboys lead 71 to 65 percent are the only two stats of significance where one team has a decided edge. ... OSU is 10-0 at home.
Texas A&M (14-5, 3-2)
PlayerPos.Ht.Wt.ClassPPGRPG
Dash HarrisG6-1175sophomore4.9*3.5
Donald SloanG6-3205senior17.53.8
Khris MiddletonF6-7215freshman5.73.8
Nate WalkupF6-7210sophomore6.93.9
Bryan DavisF6-9250senior9.77.2
Oklahoma State (15-4, 3-2)
PlayerPos.Ht.Wt.Cl.PPGRPG
Keiton PageG5-9170sophomore9.5*1.9
Fred GulleyG6-2175freshman1.2*2.1
James AndersonG6-6210junior22.35.8
Obi MuoneloG6-5220senior12.45.4
Marshall MosesF6-7240junior11.29.9
*assists per game
Matchup: Texas A&M (14-5, 3-2) vs. Oklahoma (15-4, 3-2)
When: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Gallagher-Iba Arena (13,611), Stillwater, Okla.
Line: Oklahoma State by 5
Radio/TV: WTAW 1620 AM/ESPN2
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