CANYON, Texas – Joel Murray scored 19 of his career-high 26 points in the second half as No. 5 West Texas A&M defeated an upset-minded Texas A&M-Kingsville team 90-89 in overtime at the First United Bank Center on Saturday afternoon. Ryan Quaid added 22 points and 10 rebounds as WT improved to a perfect 13-0 at home this season.

THE BASICS
The Matchup:#5 West Texas A&M 90, Texas A&M-Kingsville 89 (OT)
Records:#5 West Texas A&M (25-3, 14-1 LSC), Texas A&M-Kingsville (10-12, 6-8 LSC)
Venue:First United Bank Center
Location:Canyon, Texas 

The Buffs opened the game on a 6-0 run on baskets from Qua Grant, Ryan Quaid and Brandon Hall before the Javelinas responded by scoring eight of the next 10 points to tie the game at 10-all before the under 16-minute timeout. Quaid followed that up with a nifty hook shot over two defenders followed by a three-pointer from Jordan Collins on the next possession to make it 15-10. 

With the game tied at 20-20 at 10:26, the Buffs would go cold for the floor as TAMUK went on a 11-3 over the next six minutes until Gach Gach hit a three-pointer from the left corner. That gave momentum to WT as they retook the lead, 35-34, on a transition from the senior from Austin, Minn. with a hand in his face. The teams would trade baskets over the final minute with Grant tipping in a Quaid miss at the buzzer to give WT a 38-37 lead at halftime. 

Quaid scored the seven of the first nine points for WT in the second half including a three that ended a three-minute scoring drought. The Buffs trailed by as much as four, 64-59, with 7:04 remaining before scoring five straight points including a three from Gach to retake the lead. Grant put a TAMUK player on skates at 5:04 for a layup and a free throw for an old-fashioned three-point play to make it 68-67 in favor of WT. WT continued to lead until the final two minutes when the Javelinas finished the game on a 4-0 run to send it to overtime.

WT trailed by as many five in the overtime period before Hall connected on a three with 1:41 remaining to cut the deficit to one. The Javelinas scored on the following possession to make it a four-point game but WT countered with a three from Gach the next time down the floor to make it 88-87. Following a missed jumper from TAMUK, Hall was fouled on a drive and made both free throws to take the lead. The game was tied at 89-89 with under eight seconds remaining after TAMUK's John Mouton made 1-of-2 from the charity stripe. On the final possession of the game, Quaid was fouled going up for a dunk and made 1-of-2 to lift WT to their 22^ndstraight win at home.

In their third overtime win of the season, WT shot 31-of-67 (46.3%) from the floor, 11-of-28 (39.33%) from three-point range and 17-of-24 (70.8%) from the free throw line with 30 rebounds, 14 assists, seven steals and one block. Murray had a career-high 26 points marking the third time he has scored over 20 points this season going 10-of-16 from the floor and 4-of-8 from three. Quaid recorded his 31^stcareer double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds going 3-of-5 from downtown. Gach had 15 points while Grant (13) and Hall (11) were both in double figures. 

UP NEXT
WT hit the road for the final time in LSC play taking on Tarleton on Thursday, Feb. 21, at Wisdom Gym in Stephenville, Texas.