CANYON, Texas – The West Texas A&M men's basketball team closed out the Division II Conference Commissioners Association Tipoff Classic with a 106-89 victory over Southeastern Oklahoma State on Sunday. The Buffs improve to 2-0 on the season while the Savage Storm fall to 1-1.
 
The Leaders
Five Buffs reached double figures led by Larry Wise's 29 points to go along with seven assists and six rebounds. Ryland Holt (16), Zach Toussaint (15), Ahamed Mohammed (13), and Kieran Elliott also reached double figures while Elliott paced WT with eight rebounds.
 
How It Happened
After SE took a 3-2 lead 30 seconds into the game, Toussaint drained a shot to give WT a 5-3 lead. The Savage Storm tied the game 45 seconds later, but Ryland Holt made his three-point attempt to give the Buffs a lead they wouldn't relinquish. With SE applying full-court pressure, WT broke the press throughout the first half. With 8:15 left in the half, Journee Phillips made a pull-up jump shot to extend the lead to 15 points. As the clock worked down, SE cut into the WT lead but trailed by nine going into halftime.
 
The Buffs came out of the locker room making shots as Ahamed Mohammed made his jumper in the lane. After a Toussaint steal, Wise nailed his shot from behind the arc. Over the first three half minutes of the second period, WT ballooned its lead thanks in part to a 15-4 run. Down the stretch, the Buffs never allowed the Savage Storm within 14 points to win the game.
 
Inside the Box Score

• WT leads the all-time series 13-6
• Head coach Tom Brown moves to 1-0 against the Savage Storm
• The Buffs reach the 100-point mark for the 145th time in program history and first since Jan. 14, 2023 against Eastern New Mexico.
• WT shot 56.8% (42-of-74) from the field, 43.8% (14-of-32) from deep, 72.7% from the charity stripe with 40 rebounds, 20 assists, five steals, four blocks, and 11 turnovers.
• SE shot 50.8% (33-of-65) from the floor, 36.0% (9-of-25) from the 3-point range, 77.8% at the free throw line with 28 rebounds, 18 assists, one block, five steals, and 10 turnovers.

 
Up Next
WT returns to the First United Bank Center for its home opener against Western Colorado on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 1 p.m.
 
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