FRISCO, Texas – Gach Gach scored a game-high 21 points with Ryan Quaid chipping in 15 points and 12 rebounds as No. 4 West Texas A&M defeated Cameron 72-59 in the Lone Star Conference Quarterfinals on Thursday evening at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas. The Buffs advance to Saturday's semifinal where they will play the winner of Eastern New Mexico and Tarleton.
THE BASICS
The Matchup:#4 West Texas A&M ,72 Cameron 59
Records:#4 West Texas A&M (29-3, 17-1 LSC), Cameron (9-20, 5-13 LSC)
Venue:Comerica Center
Location:Frisco, Texas
Gach opened the scoring with a three-pointer on the first possession of the game followed by five straight points by Quaid making the Fort Collins, Colo. native the second player in program history with over 1,600 career points. CU's Tyus Momoh would connect on his first three of the game to give the Aggies a 13-12 lead before WT responded with eight straight points to take control of the first half. Joel Murray was all over the floor for the Buffs during the run recording a pair of steals that resulted in a pair of easy layups.
WT continued to lead, 23-16, as the teams traded three-point field goals with just under 10 minutes remaining before halftime. Jordan Collins first three of the contest at 8:37 extended the Buffs lead to double digits for the first time in the game, 26-16, with Eric Mosley making his first three a few possessions later. The Buffs outscored CU 15-6 over the final 4:10 of the first period to lead 45-27 at half. Hall converted both of his free throws followed by a layup from Quaid off an offensive rebound. Following Murray's fourth steal of the game, Gach pulled up from just inside the NBA three-point line for his second three of the first half. The senior would connect on another three two possessions later with Mosley finishing the scoring on a contest layup.
Quaid reached double figures for the 26thtime this season with a jumper from the left side on WT's first possession of the second half. Following back-to-back scores from CU's Brock Scheiner, Mosley made his second three-pointer of the contest followed by a driving layup from Gach. Mosley continued to punish the Aggies from downtown as the junior was good from three on a kickout pass from Murray. The Aggies would go on a 9-0 run over the next two minutes to cut the lead to 55-42 before Qua Grant scored his first basket of the game on a contested layup at the rim.
The Aggies would cut the lead down to eight, 63-55, with 7:08 remaining in the contest until Gach hit his fourth and final three of the night to beat the shot clock and restore the 11-point lead. The Buffs turned up the defensive intensity holding CU without a basket for the final five minutes of regulation as they extended their win streak to 14 games.
WT shot 24-of-59 (40.7%) from the field, 10-of-28 (35.7%) from three-point range and 14-of-20 (70.0%) from the free throw line with 39 rebounds, 15 assists, six steals and four blocks. Gach's 21-point night marked the third time this season and fourth time in his career with at least 20 points as the senior went 5-of-8 from the field including 4-of-6 from three and 7-of-8 from the free throw line. Quaid recorded his ninth double-double of the season with 15 points and 12 rebounds going 6-of-11 from the field. Mosley reached double figures for the first time since 2017 with 11 points tying a career-high with three three-pointers.
