LUBBOCK, Texas – No. 16 West Texas A&M advanced to Sunday's South Central Regional Semifinal round after defeating seventh-seeded Angelo State, 84-76, at the Rip Griffin Center in Lubbock.  The Buffs continue their postseason run as they move to 29-6 on the season while the Rams campaign comes to an end at 20-10 overall.  
 
Julius Brown opened the game with a shot in the paint to lead off a 10-2 run to give the Buffs their first substantial lead of the day.  At the 13:17 mark, Devaughn Thomas cut the Buffs lead to one before Brown and Hayden Blankley knocked down two consecutive triples to make it 20-13.  
 
The lead would reach 18, 40-22, with under two minutes left of the half on Larry Wise's three followed by Dalin Williams layup.  ASU knocked down the final shot to head into the intermission, 40-24.
 
Cameron Bell's free throw gave gave WT a 21-point lead, its largest of the night, at 14:14.  Over the following 11 minutes, the Rams cut down the Buffs lead to seven as Tyrell Carroll lobbed a pass over to Lathaniel Bastian to make it 71-64. WT would go 10-for-10 at the free throw line in the final minute of regulation to secure quarterfinal victory.  
 
WT finished the contest going 29-of-74 (39.2%) from the floor, 11-of-29 (37.9%) from three-point range and 15-of-19 (78.9%) from the free throw line with 41 rebounds, 13 assists, six turnovers, eight steals and four blocks. Brown reached the 30-point plateau for the second time this season going 10-for-22 from the field with seven assists, three rebounds and three steals.   
 
The Buffs will now face third-seeded No. 22 Black Hills State in the regional semifinals tomorrow, March 13 with tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. in Lubbock.