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Buffs Speared By Savages, 70-49
Jan. 15, 2005
DURANT, Okla. --- The West Texas A&M University men's basketball team was blasted by Southeastern Oklahoma State University, 70-49, Saturday night in Lone Star Conference crossover action at SOSU's Bloomer Sullivan Gymnasium.
WTAMU, which lost for the second time in three games, is now 6-9 on the year, while SOSU won its sixth-straight and improved to 11-4.
With the loss, WTAMU now leads all-time series with SOSU, 8-2, and the Buffs finish LSC Crossover action with a 3-4 record vs. LSC North (WTAMU's loss to Southwestern Oklahoma State University on Dec. 2 was not an official crossover game and does not count in the crossover results).
The Buffs, who trailed from the get-go and never led in the game, were led by senior forward Jamil Terrell's second double-double in a row and seventh of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while junior guard Govinda Thomas-Carter netted 12 points off the bench.
WTAMU outrebounded SOSU, 31-28, including snaring 15 offensive boards, however the Buffs shot a paltry 31.3 percent (15-of-48) from the field, including 6-of-21 (28.6 percent) from 3-point land. The Buffs were 13-of-21 (61.9 percent) from the free throw line.
WTAMU also committed 18 turnovers, which SOSU converted into 24 points, while the Buff defense only turned the 13 Savage turnovers into nine points.
SOSU also held a dominating 30-16 advantage on points in the paint, getting a game-high 21 points from forward Jeremy Brown, while Eric Babers tallied 15 points for the Savages, who shot 51.2 percent (22-of-43) from the field, including 12-of-21 (57.1 percent) in the second half. SOSU also shot 60.0 percent (6-of-10) from 3-point land and were 20-of-22 (90.9 percent) from the charity stripe.
The first half wasn't anything to write home about, as the Savages crept out to a 5-0 lead in the first five minutes of the game. SOSU later took an 11-0 lead at the 13:34 mark on a layup from Brown, before WTAMU junior guard Steve Jackson broke the Buffs' scoreless drought by hitting a pair of free throws at 13:02. Terrell hit WTAMU's first field goal of the game at 12:24 to pull the Buffs within 11-4.
Neither team scored for the next two minutes until junior guard Ronnie Holmes hit one-of-two free throws to make it 11-5 with 10:12 on the clock.
The Savages' lead reached double-figures for the first time at 17-7 at the 7:40 mark after two free throws from Babers and SOSU later had its biggest lead of the half at 27-10 with 17 seconds remaining in the half after a Babers free throw.
Senior guard Carl Lamb hit a 3-pointer with five seconds left to make the score a balmy 27-13 at the half.
The Buffs shot an icy 4-of-23 (17.4 percent) and committed 14 turnovers in the first half.
Lamb opened the second half the same way he closed the first, by hitting a trey to pull the Buffs within 27-16 with 17:43 on the clock, and Terrell hit one-of-two free throws at 16:56 to make it a 27-17 game, but that would be the closest the Buffs would get.
The Savages stretched their lead to 41-22 at the 12:58 mark on a three-point play from Brown and SOSU had a 20-point advantage for the first time at 62-41 with 4:08 to go on a 3-pointer from Clint Baker.
Babers gave the Savages their largest lead of the game at 68-43 with 2:30 remaining with two free throws and SOSU coasted to victory.
WTAMU returns home on Thurs., Jan. 20, hosting Midwestern State University in an LSC South doubleheader at 6 and 8 p.m.
The Buffs will continue action at home on Saturday, Jan. 22, hosting Texas A&M University-Commerce in a doubleheader at 6 and 8 p.m.
WTAMU Athletics is donating half of all ticket proceeds to the Amarillo Chapter of the American Red Cross to help the Tsunami Relief Fund.
Click Here for more information on the Tsunami Relief Fund.
Contact the WTAMU Athletics Ticket Office at 806-651-4424 for ticket information.
Fans can tune into WTAMU Basketball action on the Buffalo Sports Network on KGNC 710 AM or streamed on the internet at www.gobuffsgo.com.
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