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Jan. 5, 2010

BUFFS HIT ROAD FOR FINAL PAIR OF LSC CROSSOVER CONTESTS - The West Texas A&M Buffaloes play their final two Lone Star Conference Crossover contests this week as they face LSC North-member Northeastern State, Thursday, Jan. 7, at 8 p.m. CST, then visit Central Oklahoma on Saturday, Jan. 9, with a tip at 4 p.m. CST.

THE RECORDS - West Texas A&M brings records of 9-4 overall, 0-0 LSC, into the NSU contest, having won eight of its last nine contests. Northeastern State carries a record of 6-5 overall, while Central Oklahoma stands at 8-4 overall. The Bronchos host Texas A&M-Kingsville on Tuesday and Eastern New Mexico on Thursday evening.

SERIES HISTORY - Thursday will mark the 16th meeting between the Buffs and the RiverHawks, with WT holding an 8-7 series lead. NSU defeated WT, 76-69 last season in Canyon, Texas. Central Oklahoma and WT have met 43 times, previously, with WT holding a 23-20 series advantage, including having taken an 80-67 victory last year in Canyon, Texas.

HEAD COACH Rick Cooper - Rick Cooper, who ranks as West Texas A&M's all-time winningest men's basketball coach, is in his 17th year at the helm of the Buffs program. He has compiled a 320-156 (.672) overall record and is the only head coach in WT men's basketball history to reach the 300-win plateau. Equally impressive is Cooper's 22-year career record of 472-203 (.699). Cooper spent six seasons as the head coach at his alma mater, Wayland Baptist, prior to joining the Buff program. He has led the Buffs to four Lone Star Conference South Division titles, as well as eight NCAA postseason tournament appearances.

LAST OUTING - The Buffs tied a season high-water mark by hitting 11 three-point shots, led by LaDarius Hall's five treys and 18 points, as WT outgunned Oklahoma Panhandle State, 91-62. The game was WT's third-consecutive outing of 90-plus points. Defensively, WT outrebounded the Aggies, 43-35, committed just 10 turnovers to OPSU's 20 while holding them to 40.0 pct. from the field.

NEXT UP - The Buffs return home Jan. 13 to open LSC South play against Texas A&M-Kingsville. Gametime set for 8 p.m. CST.

LIGHT UP THE BOARD - In posting 91 points on Jan. 2 against Oklahoma Panhandle State, 92 points against New Mexico Highlands on Dec. 29 and 92 points against Texas A&M-Commerce on Dec. 21, WT is riding a string of three-consecutive 90-point outings and now have four such scoring performances this season. WT's season-high is currently 119, posted in the Buffs' 119-11 win over East Central.

TRIO OF `90S' UNCOMMON - The Buffs' current string of three-consecutive 90-point outings is new territory. The last time in which WT posted three consecutive 90-point performances was late in the 1997-98 campaign when they fell at Central Oklahoma (101-123), defeated Pittsburg State (90-79) and defeated Central Oklahoma (105-101) in successive outings.

WT HOT FROM `THREE' RANGE - In hitting 11 three-point attempts against Oklahoma Panhandle State, the Buffs tied a season-high in that category, matching the 11 treys made against Missouri-St. Louis on Nov. 21.

ABOUT THAT NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS GAME - The Buffaloes' 92-65 win over New Mexico Highlands marked the second-highest point total scored by WT this season. The Buffs' 43-of-54 performance from the foul stripe marked both the most made and attempted free throws by WT this season, and WT's +16 rebound margin was the largest such advantage by the Buffs' thus far in 2009-10.

SCORE 72, BUFFS WIN - Thus far in 2009-10, the Buffaloes are 8-0 when scoring 72 or more points. Their four losses have come when they have posted scores of 71, 64, 63 and 49 points.

SIX BUFFS REACH DOUBLE-FIGURE SCORING - WT saw six individuals reach double-figure scoring totals in their 92-65 win against New Mexico Highlands, led by guards Chris Tucker and LaDarius Hall, who tallied 18-points apiece. Joining them in double-digits were Alex Davis (14), Jacquiese Holcombe, Nick Burns and Bijan Dotson, who each tallied 11 points apiece.

HALL HOT OFF THE BENCH - Playing the role of the Buffs' sixth-man has suited junior LaDarius Hall. Against Oklahoma Panhandle State, the Thomasville, Ga., native tied his season-high with five three-pointers en route to an 18-point outing. He hit 18 points against New Mexico Highlands on Dec. 29 and had 13 against Texas A&M-Commerce on Dec. 21. Earlier, he tied a career-high with 23 points at Cameron, hitting five-of-seven three point attempts and going 9-of-13 from the field and for the season, Hall is averaging 12.9 ppg.

UNBLEMISHED AT HOME - The Buffs just might want to schedule all their future games for home. While their season record stands at 9-4, they are an undefeated 7-0 at the First United Bank Center.

DEFENSIVELY SPEAKING - The Buffaloes have held four opponents to below 60 points this season. They allowed Cameron a season-low 50 points, limited UT-Permian Basin to 51, then held SWOSU to just 55 and Southeastern Oklahoma State to 58. WT has also held three opponents to less than 40.0 pct. from the floor. SEOSU was held to a season-low 35.2 pct. from the field, while SWOSU hit just 37.5 pct. from the field. Earlier, Oklahoma Panhandle State shot just 36.5 pct.

A STRONG SECOND HALF - After trailing Texas A&M-Commerce by two points at the intermission, WT scored 54 second-half points to take a 92-71 win over the Lions. Those 54 points amounted to more than both WT and Cameron scored, combined, one week earlier when the Buffs lost, 50-47, to the Aggies.

FREE THROW PERFECTION - Guard Nick Burns was a career-best 13-of-13 from the foul line against Texas A&M-Commerce, a number that ranks tied for 10th as the most free throws made in a single game in WT history. Guard Chris Tucker had an 11-of-12 performance from the line against New Mexico Highlands, registering his career-best in that aspect.

BUFFS STRONG FROM THE LINE - Through 13 games, WT stands fourth among LSC free throw percentage leaders, hitting 72.3 pct. TAKEAWAY! - The Buffs registered a season-high 10 steals against Texas A&M-Commerce, bettering their previous season best of nine, set against SWOSU.

TWO FOR TWENTY - The Dec. 21, 92-71, win over Texas A&M-Commerce marked the third time this season that the Buffs have had two individuals top 20 points in the same game. Nick Burns (26) and Joe Mincey (20) did so against the Lions, Mincey (33) and Bijan Dotson (25) topped the 20-point mark against East Central, and Burns (28) and Mincey (23) each did so at New Mexico Highlands.

MINCEY-MEAT - Joe Mincey (Jr-TR, Brunswick, Ga.), the Buffs' leading scorer, sat out the OPSU contest due to an ankle sprain. He has tallied a career-best 33 points (hitting 17-0f-20 free throws) against East Central. He hit for 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the Buffs' season-opener at New Mexico Highlands and enjoyed a third 20-point outing with 20 points against Texas A&M-Commerce. He registered a double-double, with 14 points and 10 rebounds at Oklahoma Panhandle State and had a combined total of 23 points and 12 rebounds against UT-Permian Basin and SWOSU. For the season, the Brunswick, Ga., native is averaging a team-high 14.4 points (11th-best among LSC scoring leaders) while also grabbing 4.3 rebounds per outing.

MINCEY AT THE LINE - Joe Mincey is hitting 78.8 percent from the free throw line. That number was aided by his 17-of-20 performance against East Central, a performance that ranks tied for second among free throws made-single game, in WT history.

ASSIST TO BURNS - In addition to his scoring talents, guard Nick Burns (Sr-1L, Portland, Ore.) also leads the Buffs in assists, and stands eighth among LSC leaders, averaging 3.8 apg.

DAVIS CONTINUES SCORING - Forward Alex Davis (Jr-TR, Milwaukee, Wisc.) has posted six double-digit scoring outings this season. He came up big against Missouri-St. Louis, hitting a season-high 16 points and grabbing five rebounds. Among his four field goals were two three-pointers (he is 3-of-4 on the season), as well as 6-of-8 free throws. He followed with a 13-point outburst at Oklahoma Panhandle State and scored 17 points against East Central. Davis also matched those 17 points at Cameron, while tallying 14 points against New Mexico Highlands and 10 against Oklahoma Panhandle State.

BURNS LIGHTS IT UP - Guard Nick Burns (Sr-1L, Portland, Ore.) stands second among Buff scorers, averaging 12.9 ppg. for the season, registered his third 20-point outing of the season by hitting 26 points against Texas A&M-Commerce. Earlier, he hit 22 points against SWOSU, while his first such outing came when he canned a career-high 28 points at New Mexico Highlands, hitting 8-of-15 shots from the floor, including 6-of-9 from three-point range. He also tallied 12 points against Missouri-St. Louis and 15 points at OPSU.

HOLCOMBE MULTI-TALENTED - Forward Jacquiese Holcombe (Jr-TR, Atlanta, Ga.) has displayed his proficiency in various aspects of the game. In his first outing in a Buff uniform, he hit 5-of-6 shots from the floor for 13 points, while also grabbing eight rebounds at New Mexico Highlands. Holcombe tallied 15 points and eight rebounds against Oklahoma Panhandle State, scored 13 points, to go with eight rebounds and eight assists, against East Central and had 11 points and five rebounds in the rematch against New Mexico Highlands. He has also twice dished five assists (against SWOSU and OPSU). For the season, the Brunswick, Ga., native is averaging 7.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.

DOTSON DOUBLES UP - Forward Bijan Dotson (Sr-1L, Oakland, Calif.) recorded consecutive double-doubles, tallying 25 points and 11 rebounds against East Central, then coming back with a career-highs of 27 points and 13 rebounds against Southeastern Oklahoma St. That game saw Dotson score 27 of the Buffs' 60 points.

BUFFS AND OT - WT's 119-111, three-overtime win against East Central marked the Buffs' third extra frame contest this season. They suffered a 77-71 overtime loss at Oklahoma Panhandle State and took an 89-87 overtime win at New Mexico Highlands in the season-opener. That was WT's first overtime contest since winning, 86-83, at Midwestern State on Feb. 13, 2008.

TUCKER UNSELFISH - Chris Tucker (Sr-SQ, Philadelphia, Pa.) dished a season-high eight assists against Oklahoma Panhandle State while also scoring 10 points. In his first appearance of the season, at Oklahoma Panhandle State, he scored nine points (including a pair of three's during the Buffs' second-half run) in 17 minutes of action. For the season, he has had an eight-assist, a five-assist, a four-assist and three three-assist outings and is averaging 3.1 assists per game.

BURNS IS CLUTCH, TOO! - Guard Nick Burns gave the Buffs an 89-87 overtime win at New Mexico Highlands by dribbling down the game clock, then canning a 10-foot fall-away jumper with just 2.4 seconds remaining. That wasn't the first time he's clinched a game, late. He first gave an indication of that competitiveness last Nov. 29, when he canned a 15-foot jumper with 0.7 seconds on the clock to lift the Buffs to a 77-76 victory over D-I member South Dakota.

SWAT!! - As a team, WT has blocked 42 shots this season. They rejected a season-high tying seven shots against Texas A&M-Commerce (matching the seven against East Central), had six against New Mexico Highlands and Southwestern Oklahoma and five blocked shots in the season-opener at New Mexico Highlands. Forward Alex Davis (Jr-TR, Milwaukee, Wisc.) leads the squad with 13 blocks, forward Bijan Dotson (Sr-1L, Oakland, Calif.) is close behind, with 10 blocks, while guard Jacquiese Holcombe (Jr-TR, Atlanta, Ga..) stands third, with eight rejections.