Box Score / Season Statistics

vs Emporia State 11-29-14: (Live Stats / Live Video / Audio / Tickets)

Buffalo Basketball Game Notes
 
CANYON, Texas – Senior Miles Gatewood sank a game-winning 3-pointer with 3.4 seconds remaining to lift the Buffs to their third-consecutive win in a comeback thriller over Harding, 81-80. Freshman David Chavlovich poured in a career-high 33 points as the Buffs improve to 3-3 on the season. With the loss the Bison fall to 3-2 on the year.
 
After trailing by 16 points with just over five minutes remaining in the game, the Buffs rolled to a 18-4 run heading into the final minutes to set themselves up in position to earn their third-straight win, highlighted by Chavlovich's 33 points. The freshman from Arlington, Texas would do so on 11-for-19 shooting and 6-for-12 from beyond the arc to go along with five assists and four rebounds.
 
"I really had no idea I had 33 until I looked up at the scoreboard after the game," Chavlovich commented. "My teammates did an excellent job of finding me and it was just one of those nights where I couldn't miss."
 
Trailing by five with only 35 seconds remaining, the Buffs drew up a play setting up senior Tez Dumars for an open 3-pointer in the corner by WT's bench. The bucket would pull WT within two with only 26 seconds left as Harding inbounded from the court's length. As the Bison broke open from the Buffs' press on the play, they had the Buffs beat with a two-on-one in front of the bucket; however, a huge defensive play by redshirt freshman Rylan Gerber knocked the crosscourt pass off the backboard and into WT's hands, setting up the winning bucket for Gatewood.
 
"After getting that final bucket, it was really something to hear and experience here in this arena," stated head coach Tom Brown. "The crowd being behind us tonight really played a big part in this win. There were numerous times where we were down and we would grab a bucket and a couple of steals and the fans were right back into it. There is nothing better than having that atmosphere. If we can get that night in and night out that is going to really help this team."
 
After getting a bucket right off the opening tip by senior Antjuan Ball, Harding would storm out of the gate to a 12-1 run to grab an early 12-4 advantage come the first media timeout. The Bison would do so off of a hot 4-for-4 start from beyond the arc. The first three of those would come off the hands of Jacob Gibson, followed by another by Johnthan McGee.
 
Chavlovich would answer with a couple of consecutive triples of his own to pull the Buffs within two. The Bison would continue to drain 3-pointers crossing into the midway point of the first half but the Buffs would narrowly keep pace with some additional deep shots by Gatewood and Gerber.
 
WT put together a solid 8-1 run by the time the clock hit the 7:00 mark, which was capped off with an old fashioned three-point play by Chavlovich, bringing the Buffs within one point and cutting the Bison lead to 29-28.
 
After trading buckets over the next four minutes, the Buffs grabbed their first lead since 2-0 in the opening minute. That put them up, 35-34, as Dumars and Gatewood knocked down some free throws after drawing back-to-back fouls in the paint surrounding a big block on the opposite end by freshman Carl White. Then in the closing seconds of the half, Chavlovich would hit another shot from beyond the arc to send the Buffs into the locker room up 40-38.
 
At the break, Chavlovich led all scorers with 16 points as the Buffs went 12-for-32 from the field (.375). After making eight of their first nine attempts from long range, the Bison cooled off slightly to finish the half at 9-for-14 (.643) and 14-for-25 from the field (.560). Gerber would add eight points for the Buffs by the half while Gatewood contributed six along with three assists.
 
The Bison opened up the second half with another big run, this time pulling out a 13-5 advantage on the scoreboard to retake the lead at 51-45. Gerber would then add to his career high with a big 3-pointer from the top of the key before freshman Jeff Bonner trailed for a big layup in transition off a Harding turnover to bring the Buffs right back into it.
 
It would not take Harding long to retake momentum in the FUBC as it opened up a 17-2 run heading past the under-eight media timeout to extend the lead to 68-52.
 
Chavlovich would then go on a quick 10-point tear highlighted by two big 3-pointers as the Buffs forced two turnovers at halfcourt, cutting the Bison lead back to six. The teams would go into the final media timeout with 3:56 remaining as the Bison led 68-62. The Buffs would climb back within five as the final minute began to countdown, leading Gerber to force the game-changing turnover setting up Gatewood for the bucket. With 3.4 seconds on the inbound, the Bison would get off a half-court shot off which narrowly missed the rim.
 
"I really want to thank my teammates for how hard they all battled tonight to earn this win and come back late in the game," added Gatewood. "When I got the ball with about eight seconds left, I just kind of saw everyone else space out for a second and just took advantage of the opportunity. It's definitely a great feeling to hit that shot and pull out this win."
 
In his first season playing after redshirting in 2013, Gerber had himself a big game off the bench, putting up 11 points as he went 3-for-5 from deep. Dumars would add 16 points to the Buffs' total, leading the way for WT from the charity stripe, going 9-for-10.
 
With the win, the Buffs remain undefeated in the all-time series with Harding, 5-0.
 
WT will return to action tomorrow night as it hosts Emporia State in the final contest of the Pak-A-Sak Thanksgiving Classic. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at the FUBC. Live stats and a free video webstream will be available courtesy of West Texas A&M Athletic Media Relations. The game can also be heard on the radio on 98.7 Jack F.M. Links can be found at the top of the page or on www.GoBuffsGo.com via the men's basketball schedule page.
 
EMPORIA STATE AT A GLANCE: Emporia State came into the Pak-A-Sak Thanksgiving Classic with a 2-2 overall record as it prepared to play its fifth- and sixth- consecutive games away from home to begin its season. The Hornets opened up the season with two neutral site matchups in Las Vegas, beginning with a 61-52 win over Concordia St. Paul followed by a 87-77 loss to St. Cloud State. They followed up with back-to-back games on the road, dropping a 86-80 contest at Newman while defeating Northwestern Oklahoma State, 66-61 in their last outing prior to the tournament. In action earlier today at the FUBC, the Hornets defeated Eastern New Mexico, 74-63.
 
Terrence Moore has led the way for the Hornets offensively, averaging 20 points per-game while shooting .560 from the field (28-for-50). He has also converted on six of his 13 attempts from long range (.462). As a team, the Hornets are shooting .452 from the field while allowing .470 from their opponents.
 
The Buffs are 2-0 all-time against ESU. The last meeting was a 70-67 WT victory on Nov. 12, 2010.
 
COACH BROWN ON EMPORIA STATE: "Emporia has a really good player in Terrence Moore who we will have to try and contain. He is shooting a very high percentage from the field for a guard. After him they are very balanced and will be a tough team to play as it will be our third game in four days."