Box Score Season Statistics CANYON, Texas – After coming back from a 10-point deficit in the final six minutes, the West Texas A&M men's basketball team's late comeback attempt fell just short on Saturday afternoon as the Buffs fell to Texas A&M-Commerce, 76-75, at the First United Bank Center in Canyon, Texas. With the loss the Buffs fall to 11-8 (2-4, LSC) as they have now dropped three-straight to the Lions. TAMUC, receiving votes in the latest National Basketball Coaches' Association (NABC) national poll, now improves to 15-3 (4-1, LSC) with the win.
Saturday's contest was a back-and-forth affair with consistent runs as there were four lead changes with eight ties. Four of WT's five starters found themselves in double-figures when all was said and done. Freshman
David Chavlovich led the way with his sixth game of the season scoring at least 20 points as he tallied 21 on the day to go along with two rebounds and two assists.
The Lions opened up the game with a layup by Christian Macauley and began with the 4-2 advantage on the scoreboard at the 18:26 mark. Then a big slam dunk by senior
Antjuan Ball sparked a 13-2 run for the Buffs heading into the first media timeout of the afternoon. Freshman
Carl White and senior
Tez Dumars drained a couple of 3-pointers to make the score 15-6 with 15:24 remaining.
TAMUC would then grab five points out of the short break before Chavlovich converted on his first attempt from long range. An ensuing 8-0 run for the Lions allowed them to retake the lead again, going up 19-18. However, the Buffs would respond with a 6-0 run, highlighted by another slam for Ball and 3-pointer by senior
Miles Gatewood.
On through the under-eight media timeout, the visitors would manage to put together an 11-4 streak to tie the game once again at 30-30 with just under six minutes to go. Back-to-back dunks by Ball and Macauley would then knot the game at 34 apiece with 4:05 remaining.
The Buffs would make five of the final seven field goal attempts of the half to go into the locker room up 43-39 over the Lions. For the first 20 minutes, the Buffs went 17-for-35 (.486) from the field and 5-for-14 (.357) from long range along with making all four free-throw attempts. The Lions would go 15-for28 (.536) from the field and 3-for-9 (.333) from deep.
Gatewood led the Buffs in the first frame with 11 points to go along with four rebounds, three assists and three steals. Darrell Williams, the LSC's leading scorer and rebounder coming into Saturday, would also have 11 for the visitors. Ball would finish the half with nine points while Chavlovich added eight to WT's total. The Buffs forced 11 TAMUC turnovers in the first 20 minutes which led to 15 points.
Coming out of the locker room on an 8-0 run, the Lions retook the lead quickly at 47-43 just two minutes in, forcing a timeout on the WT bench. A floater by Chavlovich would end the streak, bringing the Buffs back within two. But the Lions would use another 6-0 run to stretch the lead to eight, going up 55-47 at the under-16 media.
Another Chavlovich 3-pointer would pull WT back within three as they headed into under-12 media down 61-58 before Gatewood knocked one down of his own to tie the game for the seventh time of the afternoon. But another 8-0 run would follow for TAMUC, with six of those points coming off the hand of Macauley. Chavlovich would quiet it with a fast-break layup as the Buffs went into the under-eight media down 71-63 with just under seven minutes to play.
After letting the deficit grow to 10, the Buffs used a 6-0 run to pull back within four, forcing a timeout on the Lions' bench. That would make the score 73-69 in favor of TAMUC with 3:40 to go. Dumars would extend that to a 9-0 run with a big triple; however, a layup by Anthony Adams would end the streak. A turnover on the Lions' next possession would finally bring the final media timeout with 1:06 remaining and the Buffs down 75-72.
After the timeout, Chavlovich would force another turnover and would get to the line to sink both free-throws after his drive to the basket. On their next possession, Gatewood would get to the line and make one of two to cut the Lions' lead to one. The Buffs would then force another turnover to have the final shot with a chance to win; however, Gatewood's attempt would fall just short, making the final score 76-75.
The Buffs went 28-for-67 (.418) from the field but found themselves unusually struggling from beyond the arc, going 8-for-29 (.276). The Lions would go 29-for-50 (.580) from the floor and 5-for-15 (.333) from long range. Both teams would shoot just a hair over .600 from the charity stripe.
WT led in the contest for 16:23, compared to 18:27 for the visitors while the game was tied for over five minutes. The Buffs held a 38-34 edge in points in the paint and grabbed 21 points off turnovers to the Lions' six. The Lions won the battle on the boards with a 39-28 advantage.
Gatewood finished the night with 15 points and led the team in rebounds (six), assists (four), and steals (three). Dumars poured in 14 with three boards, two assists, and a steal while Ball added 11 points with three rebounds.
Williams led all with 13 boards and 22 points for the double-double while Macauley had 14 points.
With the loss, the Buffs fall to 47-28 all-time against the Lions and have dropped three-straight now in the series.
WT will return to action on Tuesday, Jan. 27, as it wraps up its non-conference schedule with a home contest against Langston. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the First United Bank Center in Canyon, Texas. The Buffs are 1-0 all-time against Langston. Live stats and a free video webstream will be available courtesy of West Texas A&M Athletic Media Relations. As always, the game can be heard by tuning into 98.7 Jack FM. Live updates can also be found by following @wtathletics on Twitter. The Lions are members of the Red River Athletic Conference and compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
