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WTAMU Trimmed By MSU, 82-79, Wednesday
Feb. 22, 2006
WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- For the second game in a row, the West Texas A&M University Buff men's basketball team rallied from a double-digit deficit, but came up short this time, falling to Midwestern State University, 72-69, Wednesday night at MSU's Stockton Court at Ligon Coliseum at Wichita Falls, Texas. WTAMU could have secured a first-round Lone Star Conference Tournament home game with a win, but can still do so based on other happenings around the division, or beat Tarleton State University Saturday at the First United Bank Center.
The Buffs, currently sitting in second-place in the LSC South, can wrap up the second seed if Texas A&M University-Kingsville loses one if its final two game, at Abilene Christian University on Thursday, or at Angelo State University on Saturday, or if WTAMU beats Tarleton State on Saturday at 8 p.m. at the First United Bank Center. Tarleton State clinched the LSC South title with WTAMU's loss, as the Texans host Eastern New Mexico University Thursday prior to the Saturday Showdown with the Buffs.
WTAMU is now 19-7 overall and 8-3 in LSC South play. MSU improve to 16-10 overall and 5-6 in the LSC South, keeping alive its playoff hopes, as the Mustangs are currently sitting in fifth-place, needing to win Saturday against Eastern New Mexico and have ENMU lose to Tarleton State Thursday.
The loss snapped the Buffs' five-game win streak in the series, as WTAMU now holds a 28-17 lead. WTAMU is now just 4-8 at MSU.
The Buffs rallied from 14 points down in the early going of the second half, tying it with 3:32 to play and leading for the first time with 38 seconds left.
MSU's Chad Rickett hit a driving layup with 20 seconds left for an 80-79 lead. WTAMU had a chance for the win, as senior guard Steve Jackson drove the lane, but had his shot blocked and pinned against the glass by MSU's Eric Dawson, but Buffs' senior guard Ronnie Holmes grabbed the rebound. Holmes' shot missed and MSU's Eddie Rowe snagged the miss and was fouled. Rowe hit both free throws and WTAMU senior guard Govinda Thomas-Carter's 3-pointer was off the mark at the buzzer to seal MSU's win.
Sophomore guard Kyle Shields netted a career-high 25 points, hitting 13-of-16 free throws, while Holmes tallied 15 points.
WTAMU shot 57.9 percent (22-of-44) from the field in the first half, and finished the game 50.0 percent (22-of-44), including 8-of-21 (38.1 percent) from 3-point range. The Buffs also were 27-of-34 (79.4 percent) at the free throw line.
MSU was 29-of-65 (44.6 percent) from the field for the night, including 7-of-12 (58.3 percent) 3-point shooting. At the charity stripe, MSU was 17-of-20 (85.0 percent).
The Mustangs had five players in double-figures, paced by Rickett's 16 points, while Dawson, LaKeith Grant and Allen Houston all tallied 14 points apiece and Canyon native Tate Lombard tossed in 10. Dawson recorded a double-double with a game-high 12 rebounds.
MSU had a 33-32 rebounding edge, but gathered 19 offensive boards, led by Dawson's seven, as the Mustangs had a controlling 23-9 advantage on second-chance points.
The Buffs committed 20 turnovers, which the Mustangs converted into 28 points, while WTAMU only scored 11 points off MSU's 12 miscues.
MSU led throughout the first half, opening a 34-25 lead at the 6:33 mark on a pair of free throws by Grant, and the Mustangs took a 42-34 halftime lead, scoring 26 points off the Buffs' 17 first half turnovers.
The WTAMU deficit grew to 14 at 49-35 with 16:42 to go after a 3-pointer by MSU's Chris Francois, but the Buffs battled back, tying it at 68-all with 3:32 to play on two Shields free throws, setting up the final dramatics.
Saturday is WTAMU's final home game of the regular season, and beginning Friday, 500 tickets will be available at the Wendy's location at 34th and Coulter in Amarillo. On Saturday, 500 tickets will be available at Wendy's on 23rd Street and 5th Avenue in Canyon. The purchase of a combo meal is required to receive a free ticket. The tickets are available while they last at each location.
In addition, 10% of all sales from each restaurant will benefit WTAMU Athletics.
Gates will open at 5 p.m. Saturday, and additional tickets will be available for purchase at the gate, or fans can contact the WTAMU Athletics Office at 806-651-4424.
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