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Buffs Battle To 66-59 Kenneling Of Greyhounds
Jan. 24, 2005
The West Texas A&M University men's basketball team had three players in double figures to lead the Buffs as they battled their border-rival Eastern New Mexico University to a 66-59 victory in a Lone Star Conference South Division clash Monday night at the WTAMU Event Center.
WTAMU snapped ENMU's three-game win streak in the series, as the Buffs improved to 49-12 all-time over the Greyhounds. WTAMU is now 8-10 overall and 2-1 in the LSC South, while injury bug-bitten ENMU, two-time defending division champ and this season's preseason favorite, suffered its third-straight loss and is 8-10 overall and 0-3 in the LSC South.
It was the Buffs' third game in a row without head coach Rick Cooper, whose father past away in West Virginia on Thursday, and Cooper's son, freshman forward Tyler Cooper.
Mirroring the WTAMU women from earlier Monday, every Buff player in uniform got into the scoring action Monday night, led by three seniors. Forward Jamil Terrell posted his eighth double-double of the season with 15 points and 13 rebounds, while guard Carl Lamb also tallied 15 points, hitting three 3-pointers, as well as swiping a career-high seven steals and dishing out four assists. Forward Jason Campbell added 11 points and pulled down seven rebounds, helping WTAMU to a 37-33 edge on the glass, including 17 on the offensive end.
ENMU was led by a game-high 22 points from Jamaal Hunnicutt, including 14 in the second half, while Jolen Montoya added 19 points and dished out five assists.
The Buffs took a 20-10 lead at the 10:30 mark of the first half on a 3-pointer from Campbell and Terrell gave WTAMU its largest lead of the first half at 27-12 on a layup with 6:50 to play in the half and the gap remained double-digits until Jason Breland hit a layup with 53 seconds left to draw ENMU within 36-27 at the half.
The Greyhounds opened the second half with four unanswered points, closing to 36-31 at the 18:25 point, prompting a WTAMU timeout.
The Buffs regained control, scoring the next five points, as Terrell hit a pair of free throws to make it a 41-31 ballgame with 16:31 on the second half clock.
ENMU pulled within 53-49 with 5:44 left on a Montoya layup, as Terrell and Lamb combined to score every point of a 10-2 Buff streak.
In the midst of the WTAMU run, ENMU's Jason Breland had a steal and was driving in for a layup, when Lamb came from behind and blocked the ball out of bounds. Breland felt he was fouled and voiced his displeasure to the official, drawing a technical. Lamb hit both ensuing free throws, and Terrell capped the streak with a three-point play to give WTAMU a 63-51 lead with 3:32 remaining, and ENMU couldn't close the gap.
WTAMU now makes its longest division road trip, traveling to Kingsville, Texas, to take on Texas A&M University-Kingsville on Thursday, Jan. 27 at 8 p.m., following the WTAMU women's game at 6 p.m.
Fans can tune into the Buffalo Sports Network on KGNC 710 AM or streamed on the Internet at www.gobuffsgo.com.
WTAMU returns home to host traditional rivals Angelo State University and Abilene Christian University on Thursday, Feb. 3 and Saturday, Feb. 5, respectively.
For ticket information, contact the WTAMU Athletics Ticket Office at 806-651-4424.
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