FRISCO, Texas – Brandon Hall picked a perfect time to record his first career double-double of the season to lead #4 West Texas A&M to their second consecutive Lone Star Conference Tournament Championship with a 57-55 win over No. 2 seed Texas A&M-Commerce on Sunday at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas. The senior, who was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, finished the afternoon with 32 points and 10 rebounds as WT held onto to win their LSC best eighth tournament title.
The Buffs earned the LSC automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division II South Central Regional and will await whether they will be hosting on March. 15-16, 18. The NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Selection Show is scheduled for Sunday evening at 9:30 p.m. CT.
THE BASICS,
The Matchup:#4 West Texas A&M 57, Texas A&M-Commerce 55
Records:#4 West Texas A&M (31-3), Texas A&M-Commerce (23-7)
Venue:Comerica Center
Location:Frisco, Texas
Hall scored the seven of the first 10 points for the Buffs as they opened the game on a 13-0 run finished off with old-fashioned three-point play from Qua Grant at 15:21. WT continued to score at will with Ryan Quaid converting a layup followed by back-to-back three-pointers from Hall to stretch the lead to 16, 21-5, at 12:29. Layups up from Grant and Quaid pushed the lead to a game-high 17 points, 29-12, three minutes later before the Buffs went cold from the floor making one basket over the final 9:35 of the first half as they lead 31-26 after 20 minutes of action.
WT opened the second half much like the first with seven straight points to push the lead back to double digits, 38-26, on a driving layup from Joel Murray. TAMUC would get within three thanks to a 9-0 run as the Buffs went scoreless for over four minutes before Hall made a layup to end the drought. The Lions would take their first lead of the game a minute later on a pair of three-pointers from Austin Grandstaff on back-to-back offensive possessions. Hall didn't seem phased as s the senior proceeded to score the next 10 points of the game including a pair of three-pointers to give WT a 50-43 lead with less than nine minutes remaining.
Derrick Geddis came up big down the stretch as WT battled with foul trouble as the freshman's layup off his own offensive rebounds kept the lead at seven, 52-45, at 6:29. That would be their last basket for the next five minutes as TAMUC took a 53-52 lead at 1:55 on a three-pointer from Reggie Reid. Much like he had done all game, Hall made the big play for the Buffs with a contest layup on the following possession to put them back up one. TAMUC's Willie Rooks would convert his layup to give the Lions a 55-54 lead.
Following a timeout, Murray showed why he is considered one of the top freshmen in the nation as the Rowlett, Texas native didn't' hesitate to attack the rim and convert to give WT a 56-55 lead with less than a minute remaining. The defense forced a a tough shot for TAMUC's Trey Conrod on the next possession that was rebounded by Hall. Murray converted 1-of-2 from the charity stripe to push the lead to two, 57-55, with under 20 seconds left. The Lions would get one shot to win it at the buzzer but the shot was no good as WT repeated as LSC Tournament Champions for the first time since 1989-91.
The Buffs finished the game 21-of-59 (35.6%) from the floor, 7-of-27 (25.9%) from three-point range and 8-of-12 (66.7%) from the free throw line with 37 rebounds, 11 assists, eight steals and three blocks. Hall reached the 30-point plateau for the first time as Buff going 11-of-17 from the floor including a career-high six three-pointers to go along with his career-high 10 boards. Murray was the only other Buffs in double figures with 10 points and two assists and two steals.
