CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M scored the opening 22 points of the game en route to a 88-77 victory over No. 16 DBU in Friday's Lone Star Conference Semifinal the First United Bank Center in Canyon. The Buffs improve to 14-2 overall and advance to their fourth straight LSC title game. 

Qua Grant recorded his 6th double-double of the season with 27 points and 10 rebounds to go along with two steals. Joel Murray went 9-of-22 from the floor and 8-of-8 from the free throw line for a game-high 28 points while pulling down nine rebounds. Zach Toussaint was pretty much automatic from downtown as the sophomore was went 5-of-7 from 3-point range for 17 points.

WT jumped out to a 22-0 lead in the opening six minutes before DBU's Chandler Jacobs scored the opening points for the Patriots at 13:42. Murray scored the first four points of the game for the Buffs followed by a jumper from Grant. Kavon Booker got his name on the scoresheet with free throws and a dunk. Toussaint was dialed in from 3-point range as he connected on the first of five 3-pointers following a steal to make it 15-0.

The run continued with Grant scored four straight points before Jon'il Fugett converted the old-fashioned 3-point play to make it 22-0. The Buffs continued to shoot lights as Toussaint scored five straight points to push the lead to a game-high 26, 30-4, at the 11:40 mark. The Patriots would respond with a 13-3 run over the next five minutes to cut the lead to 16, 33-17.

Murray responded with steal and score to help restore the Buffs momentum. Grant would score five straight for the Buffs to push the lead back over 20 points, 40-17, with less than five minutes before halftime. Murray would hit back-to-back 3-pointers in the final two minutes to give the Buffs a 51-33 lead.

The Patriots were able to cut the lead to 11, 60-49, in the opening seven minutes of the second half until Grant hit back-to-back 3-pointers to make it 66-49. The teams continued to trade baskets over the next few minutes with the lead getting as low as 13, 73-60, before WT on a 7-0 run to put the game out of reach. Murray scored the first four points of the run followed by another 3-pointer from Toussaint. 

The Buffs will host St. Edward's in tomorrow's final. Tip is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the FUBC.