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Jan. 12, 2010

BUFFS DIVE INTO LSC SOUTH PLAY – The intensity gets ‘racheted-up’ this week, as West Texas A&M Buffaloes opens Lone Star Conference action with a pair of South Division games. The Buffs host Texas A&M-Kingsville, Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 8 p.m. CST, then travel to face Abilene Christian on Saturday, Jan. 16, in a 4 p.m. CST start time.

THE RECORDS – West Texas A&M brings records of 9-6 overall, 0-0 LSC, into the TAMU-K contest. Texas A&M-Kingsville carries a record of 10-5 overall, 0-0 LSC, while Abilene Christian stands at 7-8 overall, 0-0 LSC. The Wildcats host Eastern New Mexico on Wednesday evening.

SERIES HISTORY – Wednesday will mark the 56th meeting between the Buffs and the Javelinas, with WT holding an 35-20 series lead. The two teams split a pair of games last season, with the Javs winning, 68-60, in Kingsville, Texas, on Jan. 31 and the Buffs taking a 64-55 win in Canyon, Texas, on Feb. 21. WT holds a 68-22 series lead over Abilene Christian after the two teams split a pair of contests last year. WT won on its home court, 77-63 on Jan. 19, while ACU won 62-61 on the final day of the regular season to knock the Buffs out of the LSC Tournament.

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 320-158 (.669) 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 472-205 (.697). 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 WEEK – The Buffs had a tough week on the road to wrap up LSC Crossover play. Northeastern State rallied, late, to take a 69-62 win in Tahlequah, Okla., on Thursday. Things only got worse Saturday, as Central Oklahoma hung a 95-64 loss on the Buffs. NEXT UP – The Buffs visit front-running Midwestern State on Wednesday, Jan. 20 at 8 p.m. CST, then host Tarleton State on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 6 p.m. CST.

IT’S FEAST OR FAMINE – The Buffs are mired in a trend which finds them undefeated at home and riding a string which has seen them lose six of their last seven outings away from their home floor. WT is currently 7-0 at the First United Bank Center and 2-6 on away or neutral courts.

SCORING HIT AND MISS, TOO – No sooner did WT post three-consecutive outings of scoring 90 or more points (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) than the Buffs turn right around and must just 62 at Northeastern State and 64 at Central Oklahoma.

TUCKER A ‘POINTS’ GUARD – Point guard Chris Tucker has to be more than just a ball-handling assist man. Over WT’s last four games, the Philadelphia, Pa., senior has also scored in double-digits, averaging 13.5 points over those four contests. Included in that string were a career-high of 18 points vs. New Mexico Highlands and a 16-point outing at Northeastern State.

SCORE 72, BUFFS WIN – Thus far in 2009-10, the Buffaloes are 8-0 when scoring 72 or more points. Their six losses have come when they have posted scores of 71, 64 (twice), 63, 62 and 49 points.

HALL HOT OFF THE BENCH – While he has made three starts of late in place of the injured Joe Mincey, LaDarius Hall has generally found his fit playing the role of the Buffs’ sixth-man. At Central Oklahoma he enjoyed his third 20-point outing as he scored 20 points. Against Oklahoma Panhandle State, the Thomasville, Ga., native tied his season-high with five three-pointers en route to an 18-point outing. He also hit 18 points against New Mexico Highlands on Dec. 29. 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. For the season, Hall is averaging 12.7 points per outing.

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.

REBOUND BY COMMITTEE – While WT does not have a single individual ranked among the top-15 LSC rebound leaders, they have six players averaging between 5.1 and 3.4 rebounds per outing. As a team, the Buffs are outrebounding their opponents by a 36.9 to 34.3 rpg. margin.

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, has missed twof full games (Oklahoma Panhandle State and Central Oklahoma) and played sparingly at Northeastern State due to an ankle sprain. Despite that, 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 13.3 points (14th-best among LSC scoring leaders) while also grabbing 4.2 rebounds per outing.