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Jan. 19, 2008

Box Score

PORTALES, N.M - The West Texas A&M men's basketball team improved to 12-5 overall and 2-0 in Lone Star Conference South play on Saturday by way of a 63-52 win over Eastern New Mexico at Greyhound Arena.

Junior point guard Kyle Shields exploded for 14 points in the first half en route to his new career-high 16 points while senior Tyler Cooper narrowly missed his third career double-double as he tallied nine points and tied his career-high 11 rebounds in the victory. Cooper has enjoyed a solid career at Greyhound Arena a place where he collected his first career double-double with a 10 point, 11 rebound performance against ENMU during the 2006-07 campaign.

Seniors Chris Hinz and Robert Lee also recorded double-digit scoring with 12 points apiece; Hinz also tallied two rebounds, two assists and one steal while Lee had two rebounds and a steal.

The Buffs went on an early 7-2 lead to start the game, but with the help of 10 points from ENMU's Justin Redman-Trotter - including a four-point play by way of a made shot from behind the arc and converted free throw resulting from a WT foul - the Greyhounds fought back to claim the lead, 16-15, at the 11:41 mark.

WT chipped away at ENMU's four-point lead with two made free throws by senior Chris Hinz but the Greyhounds stayed ahead with a basket from Travis Cooper. Two consecutive made jumpers by Shields followed by a three-pointer by senior Tyler Cooper with 5:57 left to play in the half put the Buffs back on top, 24-21.

Cooper's basket sparked a 12-4 WT run as the Buffs ended the first period ahead by a 36-25 margin. West Texas A&M scored 12 points off of nine Greyhound turnovers and also benefitted from four points off the bench and six points off fastbreaks.

West Texas A&M continued to hold control over the game in the second half, never allowing the Greyhounds to come closer than within eight points despite a late 8-2 run by Eastern New Mexico. Lee added eight of his 12 points in the half as the Buffs held their lead despite strong pressure from the Greyhounds. A Hinz basket with 24 seconds to play finished off the scoring in the game as WT proved to be victorious.

The Buffs again scored six points off fast break opportunities and picked up another three points off turnovers. Additionally, the WT bench outscored ENMU's by a 14-2 margin.

WT faces the Midwestern State Mustangs in their next game, an 8 p.m. contest on Jan. 23 at the First United Bank Center.