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FRISCO, Texas – West Texas A&M's Julius Brown scored a career-high 34 points in the No. 18 Buffs 83-73 victory over seventh-seed Angelo State to advance to the Lone Star Conference Semifinals.  Thursday's victory moves the Buffs to 26-6 on the season while ASU ends their run in the LSC tournament with a 20-8 and will wait for the NCAA selection show for their postseason fate. 
 
The Rams opened scoring in the first 30-seconds as Tyrell Carroll lobbed a pass over to Salisu Yahaya for two but was immediately responded with five consecutive points from Brown.  Dalin Williams added to the board after completing a backdoor pass from Brown to push out a six-point lead, 12-6, at the 14:08 mark. 
 
ASU's Carroll knocked down to free throws to bring the score within one but was quickly responded as Brown pulled up with a three to ignite a 8-0 run.  Back-and-forth action kicked off as the Rams chipped away at the Buffs lead to make it a one-point game until Carroll's shots at the charity stripe gave ASU its second lead of the game.  With three seconds on the clock, Brown dribbled through defenders to post one off the board to a take a 40-39 lead at the intermission.  
 
The second half was opened with a shot from the deep by the Rams' Kelyn Pennie to lead off 5-0 run until Hayden Blankley answered with his own three to snap the streak.  The Sydney, Australia product added another trey before grabbing steal to lay down the hammer to extend the lead, 53-45.
 
With 7:12 left to go, WT took control of the game and never looked back as Blankley denied Lathaniel Bastien's shot in the paint before the ball was picked up by Cameron Bell who found Zach Toussaint.  The sophomore knocked the jumper to give WT a 14-point lead, 73-59, the largest of the day. 
 
Brown became the second Buff this season to surpass the 30-point mark as the junior went 12-of-19 from the field including 4-of-5 from the long range and 6-of-6 at the charity stripe with five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Larry Wise finished with 17 points while Blankley and Toussaint also were in the double figures combining for 26. 
 
 The Buffs will face sixth-seeded Midwestern State (16-14, 10-6) in the LSC semifinals on Saturday, March 5, at noon at the Comerica Center.  The Mustangs advanced to the round following an 82-66 victory over DBU led by 24 points from Jermane Carter.