LAS VEGAS, Nev. – #13 West Texas A&M scored 12 of the final 14 points of overtime to defeat Washburn 98-93 on Monday afternoon on day one of the Las Vegas Hoopla at the Centennial Hills Community College in Las Vegas, Nev. All five starters reached double figures for the Buffs led by a game-high 23 points from Gach Gach to go along with his 10 rebounds for his fourth career double-double.
THE BASICS
The Matchup: #13 West Texas A&M 98, Washburn 93 (OT)
Records: #13 West Texas A&M (11-2), Washburn (7-2)
Venue: Centennial Hills Community Center
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Gach and Brandon Hall combined to score the Buffs first 11 points of the game as WT led by as much as 13 points five minutes into the game. They continued shoot the ball well as they made nine of their first 10 shots to lead 22-11 with a little more than seven minutes gone off the clock in the first half. Rather than letting the game get out of hand, Washburn found some rhythm to chip away at the lead before tying it at 32-32 at 5:22. The game would remain tied until WT allowed the deficit to reach five, 44-39, with less than two minutes remaining but Gach's third deep ball of the first half ensured the Buffs only trailed 46-42 at halftime.
The Ichabods led by as much as 12 points with 16 minutes remaining in regulation, 60-48, before WT started a rally of their own away. Ryan Quaid went to work down in the post that resulted in a layup that was followed by a defensive rebound from the senior, which resulted in another layup from Qua Grant. Joel Murray would score five straight points for WT followed a pair of jumper from Hall to help the Buffs retake the lead at 67-66 at 11:03.
WU would respond with eight straight points of their own over the next two minutes to make it a seven-point game, 74-67. The Buffs were unable to get closer than three until the final four minutes of regulation when they went on a 5-0 run over the final 3:03 to send the game into overtime. Murray went 1-of-2 from charity stripe before making a jumper in the lane on the next possession followed by another impressive post move by Quaid to tie the game at 86-86.
After going down by five in the first two minutes of overtime, WT stormed back to take the lead on a pair of free throws from Gach following layup from Quaid and jumper from Hall . Following another lead change, WT would score the final six points of the game over the final two minutes to improve to 2-0 in overtime game this season.
WT finished the overtime contest 31-of-66 (47.0%) from the floor, 6-of-27 (22.2%) from three-point range and 30-of-43 (69.8%) from the charity stripe with 37 rebounds, 13 assists, six turnovers, six steals and two blocks. Gach scored 20+ points for the second time this season going 6-of-13 from the floor, 3-of-9 from three and 8-of-12 from the free throw line. Grant added 19 points going 7-of-8 from the free throw line while Hall had a career-high 18 points and five rebounds. Murray was the fourth Buff in double figures with 17 with Quaid adding 16 points, nine rebounds and a season-high five assists.
UP NEXT
West Texas A&M will finish its trip to the Sin City against Pittsburg State tomorrow, Dec. 18, on the final day of the Las Vegas Hoopla at 10 p.m. The Buffs lead the all-time series against the Gorillas 4-3.
