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Jan. 6, 2007

Box Score

CANYON, Texas - Another strong showing down the stretch helped the West Texas A&M men's basketball team erase a 10 point second half deficit and claim its fifth consecutive victory on Saturday night at the First United Bank Center, as the Buffs defeated Lone Star Conference crossover opponent Northeastern State by the score of 66-57.

The Buffs got off to a hot start in the contest, racing out to a 9-0 advantage behind baskets from four different players, including a three-point effort from Kevin "Chip" Green. WTAMU would maintain the lead for the majority of the half, but the offense went cold and the Buffs were held scoreless for the final 3:20 of the period, allowing the Redmen to score nine unanswered points and take a 32-28 advantage into halftime.

Green contributed a team-high seven points to the Buffs efforts in the first half, while junior forward Chris Hinz went 3-of-4 from the field to add six points.

Out of the intermission, the Redmen came out with intensity, scoring the first six points of the period to take a 38-28 lead. Mike Baskerville spearheaded a Buffs comeback that relied heavily on outstanding shooting from beyond the three point arc where, as a team WTAMU, connected on 63.6 percent (7-for-11) of its shots from three point range.

The Buffs were able to gain their first advantage of the second half, 42-41, at the 12:24 mark when junior guard Moshn Said converted both free throw attempts after the Northeastern State bench was charged with a technical foul. The lead was short-lived as the Redmen immediately responded with a 6-0 run.

A second technical foul on NSU in the half would allow the Buffs to recapture the lead later in the period. After WT junior Tyler Cooper was fouled while making a basket, NSU forward Joe Martinez was assessed a technical for throwing an elbow, giving him five personal fouls for the game. WTAMU was able to convert on two of the three foul shot opportunities giving them a 49-47 advantage.

The Buffs would not look back from there, as they held the lead until the clock expired on their fifth consecutive win. Following the victory, the Buffs improve to 7-5 on the season, while the Redmen fall to 4-8 on the year.

West Texas A&M men's basketball will return to the court on Thursday, Jan. 11 when they travel to Durant, Okla., for a men's and women's basketball doubleheader with Southeastern Oklahoma State. The Buffs contest is slated for an 8 p.m. tip-off.