CANYON, Texas – The No. 5 Buffaloes of West Texas A&M (1-2, 0-0 LSC) led off the home schedule in the win column after defeating Oklahoma Panhandle State (0-8, 0-2 SAC), 105-72, on Monday night at the First United Bank Center.
 
The Leaders
Eleven Buffs scored on Monday night with five Buffs reaching double figures led by junior Zach Toussaint drained six 3-pointers, totaling 21 points from the floor. Freshman Brock Mishak scored 18 points followed by Larry Wise (17), Ahamed Mohammed (13) and Ryland Holt (10) while Wise and Holt brought down eight boards each.  
 
How It Happened
WT opened scoring in the opening 15-seconds as Mohammed picked off a throw-in pass from under the basket to drive to basket to lead off an 8-0 run. With 15:15 on the clock, Addison Wallace found Toussaint outside the arc for the Johnsburg, Ill., product to knock down his second three of the game to push the Buffs lead out to double figures.
 
Parker Nielsen extended the lead out to 21 at the 10-minute mark after Jesse Iweze grabbed the rebound from the Aggies missed shot.  Mohammed scored six straight points for the Buffs as the freshman sank back-to-back shots from the beyond the arc before WT reached a 58-32 lead.
 
OPSU had a strong start to the second half with a 6-0 run but was snapped with a three from Toussaint. Woody Therenciel's free throws would bring the Buffs lead back within 20 until Wise conneted on one of his five 3-pointers of the game at the 7:35 mark to make it 81-63. The lead would get as high as 35 as the clock counted down, securing the Buffs home opening victory. 
 
The Stats
The Buffs shot 51.2% (22-of-43) from the field, 44.4% (12-of-27) from the deep and went 7-of-8 at the free throw line with 42 points coming off the bench to go along with 42 rebounds, 20 assists, nine steals and four blocks.  OPSU shot 48.3% (14-of-29) from the floor, 66.7% from the charity stripe with two 3-pointers while grabbing 24 boards, six steals, nine assists and two blocks. Aggies' Rayquan Elliott scored a game-high 26 points going 10-of-22 from the floor while Enock Rosil had a team-high seven rebounds. 
 
Up Next 
The Buffs will return to NCAA competition when they host Oklahoma Baptist on Saturday, Nov. 26, at the FUBC. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT in Canyon.