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Texan Two Step: No. 25 TSU Tops WTAMU On Three-Point Play With 25.2 Ticks Left In 68-66 Thriller
Jan. 29, 2006
STEPHENVILLE, Texas --- Ahead for 19:34.8 of the second half, the West Texas A&M University men's basketball team was on the verge of upsetting 25th-ranked Tarleton State University, before TSU rallied with a three-point play with 25.2 seconds left for a wild 68-66 Lone Star Conference South Division shootout Saturday night at TSU's Wisdom Gym. The Buffs led by as much as 13 in the second half and were up by eight with four minutes left before relinquishing the lead to the Texans. With the win, TSU takes over sole possession of first place in the LSC South with a 5-0 division mark and 16-4 overall. WTAMU had its five-game winning streak snapped and the Buffs suffered their first LSC South record, as they're now 3-1 in division action and 14-5 overall.
The loss denied WTAMU head coach Rick Cooper of his 400th career win. Cooper and the Buffs do not have to wait long to get that milestone, as WTAMU hosts border-rival Eastern New Mexico University on Monday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. at the First United Bank Center.
TSU won its 17th-straight game on its home court, but WTAMU had a chance to stop that streak, but the Buffs struggled down the stretch, as three players fouled out and missing four free throws in the final three minutes. WTAMU was just 8-of-16 (.500) from the charity stripe in the second half.
The Texans outscored the Buffs, 13-3, in the final 3:52 of the game, overcoming WTAMU's 63-55 lead. After TSU tied it at 63-all with 2:15 to play, senior guard Ronnie Holmes hit a 3-pointer from the left wing with 1:55 left, but that was the Buffs' last points of the game.
TSU's John Davis hit a pair of free throws with 1:03 to play and then Nic Gamble hit a layup and was fouled by Holmes with 25.2 seconds on the clock. Gamble hit the ensuing free throw and TSU took a timeout.
After the break, WTAMU got the ball to junior guard Damien Lolar, whose tightly contested 3-pointer with six seconds left was off the mark and TSU rebounded, sparking a celebration that involved a court storming.
Lolar led the Buffs with a team-high 20 points, including hitting a career-high three 3-pointers with two coming in the game's first 3:35, as WTAMU opened the game 5-of-5 from the field in opening a 12-6 lead.
Holmes netted 16 points, hitting 11-of-15 from the free throw line, and also dishing out five assists and swiping three steals. Senior forward Patrick Culver tallied 13 points, while sophomore forward Tyler Cooper tossed in 12 points. Holmes, Culver and Cooper all fouled out late in the game for WTAMU.
TSU had three players in double-digits, led by LaShon Sheffield's game-high 24 points, including 15 in the second half, as well as a double-double from Davis with 23 points and 11 rebounds, while Gamble finished with 13 points.
Davis was 11-of-14 from the free throw line, as TSU hit 20-of-32 (.625) from the free throw line, including 9-of-9 in the final 3:21.
The Texans were 23-of-55 (.418) field goal shooting, but were just 2-of-18 (.111) from 3-point range.
The Buffs shot 23-of-51 (.451) from the field, including 7-of-17 (.412) from behind the 3-point arc.
WTAMU was outrebounded by TSU, 40-32, and the Buffs committed 20 turnovers, compared to 14 miscues for the Texans, but WTAMU had a 22-14 advantage on points off turnovers.
A pair of free throws from Holmes put the Buffs up, 16-15 with 11:31 left in the first half, a lead they wouldn't lose until Gamble's three-point play.
Senior guard Govinda Thomas-Carter and Cooper hit back-to-back treys, followed by a layup from Culver gave WTAMU a 24-15 lead with 8:59 remaining and the Buffs took a 34-25 lead into intermission.
A conventional three-point play from Lolar gave WTAMU its largest lead of the night at 43-30 with 15:51 on the clock.
After TSU closed to 57-54 with 6:14 left, WTAMU scored four unanswered points to regain a seven point cushion at 61-54 with 4:53 to go, and Holmes later hit two free throws with 4:28 remaining for a 63-55 lead before the Buffs were overtaken by the Texans hard-charging rally.
WTAMU has a quick turnaround, as the Buffs return to their home court at the First United Bank Center on Monday, Jan. 30, to take on border-rival Eastern New Mexico University at 7 p.m. in an LSC South contest.
For ticket information, contact the WTAMU Athletics Ticket Office at 806-651-4424.
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