Nov. 18, 2006

Final Stats

JOPLIN, Mo. - Junior guard Mike Baskerville scored a career-high 26 points and senior Damien Lolar tallied a double-double, but it was not enough to lift the depleted West Test A&M men's basketball team to a victory on Saturday night as WTAMU fell to Missouri Southern by a score of 75-70 at Leggett & Platt Athletics Center.

The Buffs who were playing without regular starters Tyler Cooper, Kevin Green and Kyle Shields drop to 0-2 on the season, but will look to get back to form for next weekend as they return home to open play at WTAMU's First United Bank Center with the Buff Thanksgiving Classic. WTAMU will face the Adams State Grizzles on Friday at 8 p.m. and will return to action at 8 p.m. on Saturday when they take on the winner of Friday's early game.

On Saturday against the Lions, Baskerville connected on 8-of15 field goals, including four from three-point range to post his best outting since joining the Buffs this offseason. The Hartfield, Conn., native poured in 10 first half points at the Buffs took a slim 33-32 lead into the lockerroom after shooting 41.4 percent (12-of-29) from the field.

Lolar was also impressive during the first half, nearly tallying the double-double in just a half evening's work, ending the period with nine points and nine assists on his way to posting 25 points and a game-high 16 rebounds for the contest.

During the second half, the Buffs ran into a hot shooting opponent as the Lions connected on 16-of-25 field goals, including a 4-for-7 mark as a team from long distance, to close the game and hand WTAMU its second loss of the season.