LAS VEGAS – The West Texas A&M men's basketball team finished the High Desert Classic with a 108-100 overtime win over the Hillcats of Rogers State. The Buffs enter the winter break with an overall record of 10-1 and 4-0 in the Lone Star Conference.
 
The Leaders
Four Buffs reached double-digit scoring on Tuesday with three surpassing the 20-point mark. Ahamed Mohammed led the team with a career-high 25 points and nine assists. Zach Toussaint (23), Ryland Holt (22), and Larry Wise (18) also reached double digits. Holt pulled in a team-high eight rebounds in the win while also making a pair of steals.
 
How It Happened
The opening minutes saw both teams struggle offensively before Rogers State opened the scoring two minutes into the game. WT responded by rattling off an 8-0 run to take the lead. The two teams then exchanged three pointers before the Hillcats regained the advantage at the first media timeout of the afternoon. A 10-0 run allowed WT to take the lead midway through the first half. After the under-10 media timeout, the Buffs rattled off another 8-0 run over 1:28 to gain their largest lead of the afternoon. Rogers State eventually cut the lead down to two points before WT found another rhythm to take an 11-point advantage into halftime.
 
The Buffs carried their momentum over into the second half as they started the period on an 8-3 run to build on a double-digit lead. The lead reached as large as 16 points before the Hillcats brought it back down once again. Throughout the second half, WT's lead hovered above 10 points until the five-minute mark when Rogers State brought the game within nine. After the Hillcats broke into single digits, the Buffs continued to hold off a furious Rogers State comeback. Things got interesting as the Hillcats brought the score within two with 30 seconds to play and eventually tied the game with 23 seconds to play. WT had a handful of chances to win the game at the buzzer, but each attempt by the Buffs came up short to send the game to overtime.
 
In overtime, WT gained the advantage early in the extra time. After Rogers State took a one-point lead, the Buffs regained the lead and held onto it for the remainder of the game. WT outscored the Hillcats 17-9 to take the game.
 
Inside the Box Score

• WT leads the all-time series, 1-0.
• Head coach Tom Brown moves to 1-0 against the Hillcats.
• WT shot 48.4% (30-of-62) from the field, 46.2% (12-of-26) from deep, 83.7% from the charity stripe with 34 rebounds, 19 assists, five steals, two blocks, and 16 turnovers.
• RSU shot 47.0% (31-of-66) from the floor, 44.8% (13-of-29) from the 3-point range, 83.8% at the free throw line with 39 rebounds, 20 assists, five steals, one block, and 19 turnovers.

 
Up Next
WT hosts Hardin-Simmons on Saturday, Dec. 30 for a 3 p.m. exhibition at the First United Bank Center.  
 
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