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Buffs Come From Behind To Upset Bronchos, 79-67, Tuesday In LSC Quarters
March 1, 2005
EDMOND, Okla. -- The West Texas A&M University men's basketball team, the No. 4 seed from the Lone Star Conference South Division, used five players in double-figures to upset the top-seed out of the North, the University of Central Oklahoma, 79-67, in the LSC Tournament Quarterfinals Tuesday night at UCO's Hamilton Field House.
It was WTAMU's first win at Edmond since 1996 (span of six games) and just the second win over UCO in the last six match-ups, but it was the Buffs' sixth win over the Bronchos in the last seven meetings in the LSC Tournament.
WTAMU is making its third-straight and 15th overall appearance in the LSC Tournament, including 11th time in head coach Rick Cooper's 12 years at the helm.
The Buffs will now head to Commerce, Texas, where the South's top seed, Texas A&M University-Commerce will be hosting the Tournament semifinals and final. WTAMU will face Midwestern State University on Friday at 6 p.m. MSU eliminated the No. 3 seed from the North, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 72-69. Tarleton State University, the No. 2 seed from the North and the division's only survivor, will take on host Texas A&M-Commerce in the other semifinal at 8 p.m. TSU edged the No. 3 seed from the South, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, 61-58. TAMU-Commerce overcame a poor first half, down 27-12 at intermission, to overtake Southeastern Oklahoma State University, 59-42.
WTAMU's win gives the Buffs a season-long three-game win streak, as they won for the fifth time in the last seven games, improving to 15-13 overall, keeping their hopes alive for an NCAA-II South Central Regional berth.
UCO lost for the second-straight game after winning its previous seven games, and are now 21-7. The Bronchos were ranked fourth in last week's South Central Regional rankings and should receive a berth to the Regional Tournament March 12-15.
Five Buffs posted double-figures, led by senior guard Carl Lamb with 19 points, while senior forward Jason Campbell and junior guards Ronnie Holmes and Govinda Thomas-Carter all tallied 14 points each, as Thomas-Carter and Campbell hit three 3-pointers each and Holmes hit two treys. Senior forward Jamil Terrell posted his 10th double-double of the season with 10 points and a team-high 10 rebounds, tallying all his points and rebounds after halftime, helping WTAMU overcome a 32-29 halftime deficit, as the Buffs outscored the Bronchos, 50-35, in the second half.
UCO had three players in double-digits, as Deshone Henderson led the way with 16 points, while Joe Kennerly and Sam Belt tallied 12 points each, with Belt recording a double-double with a game-high 11 rebounds, leading UCO to a 33-28 rebounding advantage.
The Buffs shot 51.3 percent (20-of-39) from the field, including a blistering 63.2 percent (12-of-19) in the second half, as well as a scorching 58.8 percent (10-of-17) effort for the game from 3-point land. WTAMU also was 29-of-35 (82.9 percent) from the free throw line, hitting 22-of-26 (84.6 percent) after halftime.
UCO was 26-of-64 (39.1 percent) field goal shooting, including a paltry 3-of-22 (13.6 percent) from behind the 3-point arc. The Bronchos were 14-of-20 (70.0 percent) from the free throw line.
WTAMU took a 20-12 lead at the 8:58 mark of the first half on a 3-pointer from Lamb, before UCO closed the half with an 8-1 run to take a 32-29 lead at intermission, as the Buffs didn't make a field goal for the final 4:47 of the half.
The Bronchos lead swelled to nine on two different occasions, the last at 47-38 with 14:03 to play. The Buffs went on a 13-3 run to take the lead for good on a pair of free throws from Holmes with 7:27 left in the game.
Lamb got three points the old-fashioned way, hitting a jumper and getting fouled with 2:23 to go. His ensuing free throw not only completed the three-point play, it gave the Buffs their first double-digit lead of the ball game at 67-56.
After UCO closed to 67-61, Terrell threw down a fast break dunk to regain control for WTAMU with a 69-61 lead with 1:47 on the clock.
That was the Buffs last field goal of the game, as they hit 10-of-12 free throws down the stretch to secure the win, eliminating UCO from the LSC Tournament in the first round for the fifth year, with WTAMU doing the honors four of the five times.
Friday night will be the third time WTAMU has faced MSU this season, with the Buffs winning the previous two meetings. WTAMU won on its home floor, 81-52, on Jan. 20, and used a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Holms to knock off the Indians at their place in overtime, 74-72, on Feb. 17. This will be the first postseason meeting between WTAMU and MSU since the Indians defeated the Buffs in the 2000 LSC Tournament Championship game.
WTAMU has made it to the LSC Tournament final a conference-record eight times, taking the title five of those times, also the most in conference history.
Fans can tune into WTAMU Basketball action on the Buffalo Sports Network, but will need to check out www.gobuffsgo.com, to find out what station Friday's game will be on, as the Lady Buffs' semifinal game from Tahelquah, Okla., will be on KGNC 710 AM and streamed on the Internet.
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