Game Notes in PDF Format

CANYON, Texas – The No. 8 West Texas A&M men's basketball team returns to the road this week as it travels to Angelo State and Texas A&M-Kingsville for a pair of Lone Star Conference matchups.  WT faces ASU on Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m., in San Angelo, Texas, and will battle Texas A&M-Kingsville Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m., in Kingsville.
 
INSIDE THE RECORDS – The WT enters winners of six-straight games and is 14-1 overall and 4-1 in Lone Star Conference play.  Angelo State is 11-3 and 3-2 in league play, while Texas A&M-Kingsville is 9-6 and 2-3 in conference play.  Angelo State is coming off an 84-73 loss at Texas A&M-Commerce last weekend and is 6-1 at home with the lone defeat being a 69-65 setback to Lubbock Christian - a team WT beat 82-72 this season in Canyon.  Texas A&M-Kingsville has lost its last five and six of seven after opening the season 8-0.  TAMUK is 5-3 at home this year and will face No. 6 UT Permian Basin on Thursday before hosting the Buffs Saturday.
 
WATCH AND HEAR THE BUFFS – Fans not able to attend WT men's basketball games this season can  find links to live stats and audio/video streaming at www.gobuffsgo.com on the men's basketball schedule page as Kent Johnson and Lucas Kinsey will have the call of all the games both home and away this season. 
 
FOURTH NATIONALLY IN HOME WINS – WT owns a school-record 29-game home winning streak dating back to the 2015-16 season as the Buffs went a perfect 15-0 at home last season and are 8-0 in the friendly confines this season. WT's home winning streak currently is fourth nationally behind Bellarmine (51), Northwest Missouri State (41) and West Liberty (40).  Chaminade (Hawaii) is fifth with 24-straight home victories.
 
WT IN THE NABC POLL – WT moved back into the top ten in the latest NABC Top 25 following the three wins since Christmas break as the Buffs are eighth this week.  Queens (N.C.) took over the top spot as Northwest Missouri State lost for the first time this season, while Bellarmine moves to No. 2, followed by West Liberty, Northwest Missouri State and Lincoln Memorial rounds out the top five.  UT Permian Basin is sixth, followed by Ferris State, WT, Northern State and Western Oregon.  Texas A&M-Commerce sits 12th.  In all, seven teams from the South Central Region are ranked in the poll this week.
 
RECAPPING LAST WEEK – WT opened the 2018 portion of the schedule on a high note with a pair of wins over Midwestern State and Cameron last week.  The Buffs opened the week with an 83-76 win over Midwestern State as WT had five players in  double figures and double-doubles from junior Ryan Quaid (11 pts./10 rebs.) and freshman Gaige Prim scored 17 points with a game-high 12 rebounds. Both teams struggled shooting each at 40 percent, but WT held off a furious run by the Mustangs in the second half for the seven-point win.  On Saturday, the Buffs came out of the gates on fire against Cameron, jumping out to a 12-0 lead early and never looked back for a 28-point lead at halftime en route to a 93-59 win.  Senior Jordan Evans scored a game-high 23 points on 7 of 12 from the field with six triples.  Junior Gach Gach added 16 points and Prim recorded 17 points and 10 rebounds for his second-straight double-double and went a career-best 11 of 14 from the line.  WT drained 14 triples, while going 25 of 33 from the line and held Cameron to a season-low 29.2 percent shooting and just 5 of 20 from beyond the arc.  Quaid narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds.   
 
JANUARY 20 GAME ON ESPN3 - WT's Lone Star Conference doubleheader with Texas A&M-Commerce, scheduled for January 20 at the First United Bank Center, has been picked up as part of the Division II Showcase and will be broadcast on ESPN3 and the ESPN App.  Check back with www.gobuffsgo.com for more details on the broadcast. WT's doubleheader against Tarleton State last season to end the regular season was part of the Showcase and broadcast on the American Sports Network.
 
ABOUT ANGELO STATE - The Rams enter looking to get back on the winning track after their five-game winning streak was snapped at Texas A&M-Commerce last Saturday.  ASU is led by Ja'Michael Brown who leads the team averaging 13.7 points per game and leads the team in assists at 4.3 per game.  Brandon Williams is second in scoring at 12.7 points per game and headlines the defense at 6.5 rebounds per game, while James Kirksey is third in scoring at 12.2 points and second in rebounding at 6.2 per game.  Williams leads the team from the field at 76 of 119 for a .639 clip, while Kirksey is 65 of 120 for a .542 average.  Will Adler is averaging 10.3 points per game and leads the team from deep on 32 of 78 for a .410 clip.  ASU is second to WT in assist/turnover ratio in the league at 1.22, while ranking second to the Buffs in fewest turnovers (178) and third in scoring margin at 12.1 per game ranking 36th nationally.  ASU leads the LSC in turnover margin at 3.6 ranking 30th nationally, while the Rams are 35th in the nation in turnovers forced at 16.36 for second in the LSC.  Conversely, ASU is allowing just 12.7 turnovers per game, ranking third in the league as WT leads the league at 11.6 per game.  ASU is second in the league in field goal percentage at a .493 clip, and is third in field goal defense at a .415 clip.  ASU is averaging 83.8 points per game which ranks third in the LSC behind WT and UT Permian Basin.  Williams' .639 field goal percentage is second in the LSC and 17th nationally, while he is third in the LSC in blocks with 24 ranking 51st nationally.  Brown is third in the league in assist/turnover ratio (2.18) and third in assists per game at 4.7, while ranking fourth in the league in total assists with 61.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES WITH ANGELO STATE - The Buffs lead the all-time series 42-25 and have won the last three in the series, including a 90-81 win last year in San Angelo.  It was the first road win for the Buffs in the series since 2012.  WT is 14-19 all-time in San Angelo and has won 10 of the last 15 in the series dating back to 2010.  WT head coach Tom Brown is 3-3 against Angelo State, while ASU head coach Cinco Boone is 1-3 against the Buffs. 
 
ABOUT TEXAS A&M-KINGSVILLE - The Javelinas are reeling after losing the last five games and six of seven.  Despite the losses, TAMUK is led by Trey Sumpter who leads the team at 12.0 points per game.  No other Javelina is in double figures in scoring.  Sumpter is 64 of 152 from the field to lead the team for a .421 average, while going a team-best 33 of 88 from beyond the arc (.375) and 19 of 29 from the line.  He also leads the team averaging 5.5 rebounds per game with 11 steals ranking second on the team.  Robert Stevenson also is averaging 5.5 rebounds per game. Both Caelan Neal and Jacolby Harris are averaging 8.0 points per game.  Neal is second in 3-pointers with 17, while Derrick Byrd leads the team in assists with 34 and Neal is second with 29.  As a team, the Javelinas are shooting .431 from the field, .326 from beyond the arc and .659 from the line.  TAMUK is averaging 34.4 rebounds per game and scoring 70.6 points per contest.  Teams are scoring just 67 points against the Javelinas, ranking 25th nationally and second in the LSC.  TAMUK is second in the LSC behind WT in 3-point field goal attempts (344), while ranking second in blocks shots per game (4.2) and leads the LSC in 3-point field goal defense at a .320 clip.  WT is second in the LSC in 3-point field goal percentage at a .373 clip.  TAMUK is 28th in total blocks (63) and is third in the LSC in turnover margin (2.6) and turnovers forced at 16.33 per game.  Stevenson is 34th nationally in blocked shots per game at 1., ranking second in the league, while also ranking second in total blocks with 27.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES WITH TEXAS A&M-KINGSVILLE - WT leads the all-time series with TAMUK 50-25 and won the last meeting in a 76-64 win in the NCAA South Central Regional in Golden, Colo., last season.  The teams went 2-2 last season in four meetings as both won on their respective home floors and TAMUK ousted WT in the first round of the 2017 Lone Star Conference Championship, 68-63.  WT is 13-17 all-time in Kingsville and lost last season there 76-59.  Prior to that, WT had won three-straight in Kingsville.  Brown is 6-2 against TAMUK in his time at WT.
 
BROWN WINS 75 - WT fourth year head coach Tom Brown won his 75th game at the helm of the Buffs in the 88-60 win over Rollins on Dec. 19.  Brown currently is 78-32 (.709) during his time at WT. 
 
EVANS 10TH IN SCORING - Senior Jordan Evans has scored 36 points last week to lead the team as he moved into 10th all-time in career scoring with 1,158 career points in 81 games.
 
PRIM AND QUAID SEEING DOUBLE - Junior Ryan Quaid and freshman Gaige Prim lead the team with eight and five double-doubles, respectively, this season season.  Quaid is 10th nationally in double-doubles to lead the LSC and has 14 double-doubles for his career.
 
HIGH SCORING BUFFS - WT is averaging 91.1 points per game ranking ninth nationally and second in the LSC.  The Buffs have scored 90 or more points nine times this season and have scored over 100 points four times.  All but two games this season the Buffs have scored 80 or more points.  WT is seventh nationally in scoring margin at 17.0 per game to lead the league.
 
DEADLY FROM DISTANCE - WT is fourth nationally in 3-point field goal attempts (466), while ranking ninth in 3-pointers made (174) and 10th in 3-pointers per game at 11.6.  WT is 174 of 466 from beyond the arc this season for a .373 clip.  The Buffs are holding teams to just a .333 clip from beyond the arc, ranking fourth in the LSC and 81st nationally.  Senior Jordan Evans is fifth in 3-pointers attempted (146), fifth in 3-pointers made per game (4.20) and fifth in total triples with 63.  Evans leads the LSC in 3-point field goal percentage at a .432 clip.  Senior David Chavlovich is fourth in the LSC in triples attempted (95), fourth in 3-pointers per game (2.33) and fourth in total triples (35).
 
GETTING THE FREEBIES - WT is 291-390 from the line this season for a .746 clip as the Buffs rank 53rd nationally and lead the LSC.  WT is 11th nationally in free throws made (1st LSC) and 16th nationally in free throws attempted (3rd LSC).  Conversely, the opposition is shooting at a .666 clip from the stripe on 233 of 350.  Senior David Chavlovich is 11th nationally in free throws made (87) for second in the LSC and 22nd in free throws attempted (102) ranking second in the league.  His .853 free throw percentage is second in the league.
 
WITH THE ASSIST - The Buffs are 33rd nationally in assist/turnover ratio at a 1.39 clip to lead the LSC, while ranking second in the league in assists per game at 16.1.  WT is second in the league in total assists with 241 ranking 49th nationally.  Senior David Chavlovich is second in the LSC in assist/turnover ratio at 2.30 and leads the LSC in assists per game at 5.1.  He is 38th in the nation in total assists with 76 to lead the LSC. 
 
PROTECTING THE ROCK - WT is 76th nationally in fewest turnovers (174) to lead the LSC, while ranking 39th in turnovers per game at 11.6 to lead the LSC.  WT is 55th in turnover margin at 2.5, ranking fourth in the league.
 
GLASS CLEANERS - The Buffs are 14th nationally and second in the LSC in defensive rebounds per game at 29.33, while ranking 32nd nationally in total rebounds with 615 to lead the LSC.  Junior Ryan Quaid is 14th nationally in defensive rebounds per game (7.80) ranking second in the league, while also ranking second in the LSC in offensive rebounds per game at 2.93.  He is 12th nationally in rebounds per game at 10.7, ranking second in the LSC.  Quaid is eighth nationally in total rebounds with 161, ranking second in the league.
 
GETTIN' TO THE RIM - The Buffs are fourth in the LSC in field goal percentage at a .464 clip.  Junior Ryan Quaid leads the team at a .635 clip ranking 20th nationally and third in the LSC.  WT is 451-973 from the field, while Quaid is 87-137.  His 87 field goals made ranks second on the team behind senior David Chavlovich with 93. Chavlovich is third in the LSC in made field goals, while Quaid is fourth.
 
LSC RECORDS FALL - Senior David Chavlovich owns the LSC career records for 3-pointers made (332) and 3-pointers attemped (897).  The previous records were 325 triples made from Stephen Hamrick of Eastern New Mexico (1992-96) and 3-pointers attempted (811) also by Hamrick.  Chavlovich is 310 points from tying the LSC career scoring record in the LSC of 2,380 points by Nate Granger of Texas A&M-Commerce (East Texas State) from 1973-77.  Chavlovich has scored 308 points this season leading the LSC in total points and ranking 35 nationally.  He would need 619 points to break the record for the season as he has scored over 619 points each of the last two seasons.
 
CHAVLOVICH FOR 40 – Senior David Chavlovich dropped a career-high 40 points in the 92-88 win over Adams State (11/17).   Chavlovich went a career-best 13 of 18 from the field, 6 of 9 from beyond the arc and 8 of 10 from the line.  He played in a season-high 35 minutes and his 40 points ties the LSC high this season with Corinthian Ramsey of Tarleton State who had 40 against UC-Colorado Springs.  The 40 points by Chavlovich ties former Buff Dale Blaut (2/14/70) for fourth-most all-time in a game by a Buff.
 
BUFFS SECOND IN LSC PRESEASON POLL – The Buffs were picked runner-up in the preseason Lone Star Conference Poll as voted on by league coaches, sports information directors and select media representatives.  UT Permian Basin was picked to win the league, following its LSC tournament championship from a year ago.
 
CHAVLOVICH PICKS UP PRESEASON HONORS – WT senior David Chavlovich was named to two preseason all-America publications this season as he was named to the Basketball Times Preseason All-America team and was a second team preseason honoree according to Street & Smith's Magazine.  Chavlovich put together one of the best single-seasons in WT basketball history last season as he earned first team all-conference honors, helping WT to its first NCAA Sweet Sixteen since 1997-98 as the team went 26-9.  Chavlovich set new single-season school-records in points (655), while holding the WT career mark for points (1,762), field goal attempts (1,367), 3-point field goals made (297) and 3-point field goal attempts (802).  He broke the school all-time scoring record at UT Permian Basin on Feb. 4, 2017 and earned NABC Division II South Central Region All-District honors.
 
LOOKING AHEAD - The Buffs return home following the two games for five-straight in the friendly confines of the First United Bank Center.  WT opens the homestand with Tarleton State next Thursday and then the ESPN3 game against Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday, Jan. 20 to close out the first half of conference play.  ENMU and WNMU visit the following week, followed by a rematch with UTPB to close out the month of January. 
 
BUFFS SIGN ONE IN NOVEMBER - WT signed the services of Mar'Qualen Grant for the 2018-19 season as he inked with the Buffs on National Signing Day.  Grant, shot 59 percent from the field and averaged 15.3 points per game for Waxahachie High School, while averaging six rebounds per game, four steals per game and six assists per contest.  He was a first team all-district 10-5A selection last season and was named the 2016-17 Newcomer of the Year in District 10-5A.  Last season, Grant helped lead his team to a 29-7 record and 14-0 in district play, while finishing the season as the 5A Region 2 semifinalist.  He also competed in AAU for head coach Brandon Ray.  Grant helped lead his team to the title of the Adidas Gauntlet Tournament in South Carolina.  It was the first time a Texas team had won the tournament.
 
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