OKLAHOMA CITY – The West Texas A&M men's basketball survived a scare on the road as the Buffs held off an upset-minded Oklahoma Christian team. With the 83-77 nail-biting win, the Buffs improve to 6-1 overall and 2-0 in Lone Star Conference play.
 
The Leaders
Larry Wise scored a game-high 20 points on 5-of-13 shooting and 10-13 from the free throw line. Ryland Holt also reached double figures with 16 points and eight rebounds to go along with two blocks and three steals. Zach Toussaint chipped in 12 points in his 26 minutes of play.
 
How It Happened
The two teams started neck-and neck in the game's opening minutes with neither team gaining a definitive advantage. The Buffs regained a lead when Elliott knocked down a pair of free throws with 11 and a half minutes to play in the first half. On the Buffs' next possession, Holt turned offense into defensive as the senior made a layup and raced down the court to block a shot. After a couple empty possessions, the Buffs and Eagles exchanged buckets throughout the next minutes. At the end of the first half, WT trailed Oklahoma Christian by two as neither team could create a separation greater than four points.
 
After the midway break, the Buffs opened the half on an 11-3 run to take the largest lead of the game at that point. The Eagles quickly responded by cutting into WT's lead, bringing the game within three at the first media timeout. Over the next four minutes, Oklahoma Christian held the Buffs quiet to regain the lead once again. Despite trailing the Eagles, the Buffs pieced together solid offensive possessions while forcing OC into tough shots. The stretch allowed WT to take an eight-point advantage into the under-eight media timeout with a chance to put the game away down the stretch.
 
The Eagles didn't make it easy on the Buffs to close out the game as OC stormed back to bring the game back within reach. With 3:48 to play, Isaac Ayoubi put WT up by two possessions as the Sydney, Australia native drove down the lane to score and draw a foul. The Eagles erased the Buffs' lead with two minutes to go, tying the game on a three by Quinton Johnson II. With time running short, Wise knocked down a turnaround, fadeaway jumper to give WT the lead. Needing to score quickly, OC couldn't get its shots to fall. In the final minute, WT converted free throws closed out a hard-fought victory.
 
Inside the Box Score

• WT leads the all-time series, 6-0.
• Head coach Tom Brown moves to 5-0 against the Eagles.
• WT shot 42.1% (24-of-57) from the field, 18.2% (4-of-22) from deep, 73.8% from the charity stripe with 36 rebounds, seven assists, 10 steals, four blocks, and nine turnovers.
• OC shot 44.4% (24-of-54) from the floor, 45.5% (10-of-22) from the 3-point range, 79.2% at the free throw line with 32 rebounds, 12 assists, three steals, six blocks and 15 turnovers.

 
Up Next
The Buffs return to the First United Bank Center for a matchup against Texas A&M-Kingsville on Sunday, Dec. 10. Tipoff is slated for 4 p.m.
 
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