Nov. 25, 2007

Box Score

CANYON, Texas - Guided by the hot shooting hand of junior guard Clint McFall, the West Texas A&M men's basketball team improved its record on the season to 3-2 as they downed Harding, 86-80, in the title game of the Coca-Cola Thanksgiving Shootout presented by Holiday Inn.

McFall, in his first year with the Buffs after transferring from Northwest Missouri State, sank 7-of-11 three point field goals attempts to lead WT with a career high 21 points. Also registering double-figure scoring for the Buffs were senior Andre Hill, with 15 points, junior Keon Grant, with 14, and senior Robert Lee, with 12.

The end of the first half saw the Buffs trail the visiting Bison by the slimmest of margins at 35-34 after Harding was able to control the glass and out-rebound the Buffs by a 22-14 mark, including seven on the offensive boards. WT, however, was able to get great contributions from its bench which, led by McFall's 12 points, was able to outscore the visitors, 27-9.

During the second half, the Buffs began to exert their will, outscoring the Bisons by a 52-45 margin during the period with the help of Grant's 11 points and Hill's seven points and five rebounds. Lee added seven points of his own while junior Kyle Shields and senior Tyler Cooper contributed six points apiece.

The lead see-sawed between the Bisons and the Buffs for the first five minutes of play until McFall's fifth three-pointer of the night put WTAMU on top for good at the 14:56 mark. An old fashioned three-point play from Lee with 4:22 left to play pushed the Buffs' lead to 13, out of reach of the Bisons' efforts.

West Texas A&M men's basketball is back in action on Tuesday, as the team travels to Las Vegas, N.M., to battle New Mexico Highlands in an 8 p.m. contest.