Dec. 16, 2006

Box Score

CANYON, Texas - Outscoring the Pioneers 53-39 in the second half, the West Texas A&M men's basketball team saw themselves into the win column with a 80-66 victory over Wayland Baptist on Saturday evening.

Assistant coach Justin Ashley served as head coach for WTAMU during the contest, filling in for head coach Rick Cooper, who was in Omaha, Neb., watching his daughter and the University of Nebraska volleyball team play for the national championship.

During the opening period, the Buffs were paced by senior Damien Lolar, who paced the squad with nine opening half points, including the conversion of a three point play, in which he was fouled on a field goal as time expired in the half.

Lolar finished the game as the Buffs leading scorer with 26 points while also pacing the team in rebounds with 11 boards.

Junior Tyler Cooper was also productive during the opening 20 minutes, going 3-of-3 from the field and connecting on his only attempt from beyond the three point arc for seven points in the half. The Amarillo, Texas, native also tied for the team-high with four rebounds during the opening stanza.

Following halftime, the chess match continued until the Buffs were final able to wrestle control of the game away from the Pioneers, using a 32-18 run late in the game to secure the victory.

Junior guard Mike Baskerville finished with 22 points complimenting Lolar, along with Cooper, who turned in a 6-of-7 shooting performance from the field and a perfect 6-of-6 mark from the free throw line to end with 19 points.

West Texas A&M men's basketball will now take a break for the holidays before returning to action on Dec. 30 with a home match-up against New Mexico Highlands. Tip off for the NMHU contest is slated for 7 p.m. from WTAMU's First United Bank Center.