FRISCO, Texas – The West Texas A&M basketball saw their streak at the Lone Star Conference Tournament come to an end on Thursday night as the Cameron Aggies upset the Buffs in overtime, 93-89. The Buffs (26-4) await their seeding for the NCAA Tournament with the NCAA Selection Show at 10 p.m. on Sunday, March 10.
The Leaders
Five Buffs reached double-digit scoring on Thursday night led by a team-high 25 from
Kieran Elliott.
Zach Toussaint (17),
Ryland Holt (14), Ahamed (13), and
Larry Wise (11) also ended their night in double figures. Elliott pulled in a game-high seven rebounds with a block while Mohammed dished out three assists.
How It Happened
The game's opening minutes went back-and-forth between the teams with neither team building a large lead. As the Buffs started to heat up on the offensive end of the court, WT's defense held the Aggies in check. With the score tied, a 13-4 run from the Buffs built a nine-point lead. Cameron quickly responded back as a seven-point streak brought the difference down to two at the under-eight media timeout. As the half started to wind down, a two and a half minute scoring drought from both teams kept the game close. A pair of free throws from Mohammed with three seconds to play in the first half pushed the lead to three at the half.
Cameron opened the second half with four points to take a one-point lead, its first since the game's opening bucket. A deep three from Toussaint broke the run and put WT ahead by two. Over the next minutes, the Buffs and Aggies exchanged the lead. With 13:16, a three from Daylon Andrews put Cameron up three before a three-point from play by Wise tied the game once again. On the next possession, a reverse layup restored the lead for WT. The Aggies answered with a 10-0 run of their own, building their largest lead of the night. Four free throws from the Buffs cut the lead with 7:43 to play.
When WT looked to get in striking distance, Cameron answered with big points to keep the lead. Needing to keep the game close, Elliott stepped up and carried the Buffs, hitting an and-one free throw with 2:17 to play and tying the game. As the Aggies looked to close out the game, a pair of free throws from Toussaint with less than five seconds to play tied the game and sent it to overtime.
In the extra time, Cameron scored the first nine points before a Toussaint three answered back. The Buffs brought the game back within three with 81 seconds left. After the Aggies made a bucket on one end, Toussaint hit two more free throws to keep the game within a possession. WT couldn't make shots in the closing minute to force another overtime or take the lead, falling to Cameron, 93-89.
Inside the Box Score
- WT leads the all-time series, 46-17, 3-2 at neutral sites.
- Head coach Tom Brown moves to 18-3 against the Aggies.
- WT shot 38.2% (26-of-68) from the field, 25.0% (7-of-28) from deep, 93.8% from the charity stripe with 42 rebounds, 11 assists, seven steals, one block, and 12 turnovers.
- Cameron shot 47.5% (28-of-59) from the floor, 50.0% (12-of-24) from the 3-point range, 62.5% at the free throw line with 40 rebounds, 13 assists, seven steals, seven blocks, and 12 turnovers.
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