CANYON, Texas – No. 7 West Texas A&M led from start to finish in their 84-56 victory over Arkansas-Fort Smith on Saturday afternoon in front of 945 fans at the First United Bank Center. The Buffs have now won 34 straight games at home and improve to 12-1 overall and 4-1 in Lone Star Conference play. 

The Buffs led 10-6 at the first media timeout of the game after Derrick Geddis and Eric Mosley connected from 3-point range. It was a two-point game, 14-12, at 12:55 before WT went on a 19-0 run over the next six minutes to bust the game wide open. UAFS had no answer for Qua Grant during the run as the sophomore scored seven points with two steals and an assist.

They continued to stifle the Lions as the lead reached 26, 40-14, with under four minutes remaining before halftime on a three from Jordan Collins. Joel Murray would convert a pair of free throws in the final minute to give WT a 23-point lead at intermission, 42-19. 

After turning over the ball just once in the first half, WT turned the ball over five times in the opening six minutes of the second half to let UAFS cut the lead to 21, 50-29. They would get things under control going with a 7-0 run to push the lead to 31, 64-33, at 8:45. Jon'il Fugett got the run started with his only 3-pointer of the game followed by contested layup from Murray. 

Kavon Booker's dunk at 1:31 off a nice dish from Jake Gerber pushed the lead to a game-high 35, 82-47, as the Buffs improved to 2-0 all-time against the Lions. 

Grant went over 20 points for the ninth time this season with 21 going 8-of-11 from the floor, 2-of-2 from 3-point range and 3-of-4 from the charity stripe. He also pulled down a team-high six rebounds and four steals. Murray chipped in 16 points after a perfect day from the free throw line (6-of-6) with five assists and three steals. John Brown finished with eight points and five rebounds off the bench. 

Following the Christmas break, WT travels to Portales, N.M. on Saturday, Jan. 4, to take on Eastern New Mexico.