CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M's Joel Murray became the program's all-time leader in steals as the No. 5 Buffs defeated Oklahoma Christian 75-61 on Saturday afternoon at the First United Bank Center in Canyon. The Buffs have now won six straight games to improve their record to 9-1 overall and 7-1 in Lone Star Conference play. 
 
Murray had a game-high 24 points with six rebounds, five assists and one steal as he passed David Chavlovich to become the program's all-time leader in steals with 157. Qua Grant had another efficient night with 22 points and eight rebounds while knocking down four 3-pointers. Jon'il Fugett reached double figures for the seventh straight game with 14. 
 
Grant scored the opening basket for the Buffs for the third time this season as they made three of their first four shots to lead 6-2 in the opening two minutes. Following a jumper from OC's Elijah Elliott at the 17:09 mark, WT would go on a 11-2 run to push their lead to double figures for the first time. J. Fugett hit a jumper in the lane followed by four six straight points from Murray. Grant ended the run with a 3-pointer to make it 17-6 in favor of the Buffs.
 
The Eagles' zone was able to stop the Buffs as they cut the lead to two, 21-19, on a Marco Foster 3-pointer with under nine minutes remaining before the half. WT responded with a 6-0 run over the next two minutes to push the lead back eight, 27-19. Kavon Booker converted two free throws before J. Fugett scored four straight points. 
 
OC would tie the game at 27-all at the 3:50 mark before the Buffs finished the first half on a 7-0 run to lead 34-27 at halftime. Zach Toussaint hit a 3-pointer following a Parker Nielsen steal with Murray finishing the scoring with a jumper.
 
It was a two-point game, 43-41, at the 13:53 mark in the second half before the Buffs went on a 21-4 run over the next seven minutes to bust the game wide open. Murray scored the first seven points of the run followed by four from Grant and back-to-back 3-pointers from Toussaint. J. Fugett ended the run with a put back of an offensive rebound. 
 
J. Fugett got his third dunk of the year following a steal to keep the Buffs in control with under four minutes remaining. Grant would finish his scoring for the day with his fourth and final 3-pointer with 3:19 left on the clock. 
 
The Buffs hit the road for a pair of games against Cameron on Friday, Feb. 19, and Saturday, Feb. 20.