DALLAS – On the Thursday night, West Texas A&M men's basketball tested the No. 12 Dallas Baptist, but the Patriots pulled away late in the game to secure a 97-78 victory in Dallas. The loss drops the Buffs to 12-6 overall on the season and 7-5 in Lone Star Conference play.
 
The Leaders
Three Buffs reached double-digit scoring on Thursday night led by a team-high 17 from Jailyn Sledge. Mackenzie Morgan (16) and Bob Griechen (14) also ended their day in double figures. Griechen also pulled in a team-high seven rebounds while Ahamed Mohammed dished out five assists. Pagotto converted three steals with Sledge accounting for two blocks.
 
How It Happened
The Patriots jumped out to an 8-0 lead over the game's first two and a half minutes before Sledge knocked down a three to break the streak. The Buffs cut the lead down to one, but a layup put DBU up 15-12 at the first media timeout of the game. WT continued to fight back, cutting the lead down to two midway through the first half. The Patriot defense turned up the pressure on the Buffs, forcing turnovers to build a 12-point lead. DBU continued to defend a 10-point lead until a 6-0 streak from WT brought the game back within six with five and a half to play in the half. Down the stretch, six unanswered points from Morgan cut the lead back down to a possession at 42-39. In the final minute, the Patriots outscored the Buffs 8-2.
 
In similar fashion to the first half, an 8-1 run from DBU to open the half ballooned the Patriot lead to 17. DBU kept its foot on the gas, stretching the lead to 19 with 14 minutes to play in the game. After the under-eight minute media timeout, the three-point shooting started to heat up as a 13-2 streak, including 10 points from Griechen, put the Buffs back within six. Just when WT started to find momentum, DBU put the game out of reach with an 10-0 run.
 
WT continues its road stretch at UT Tyler on Saturday. Tipoff between the Buffs and Patriots is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Herrington Patriot Center.
 
Inside the Box Score

• The Buffs lead the all-time series with Dallas Baptist, 10-2.
• Head coach Tom Brown moves to 8-2 against the Patriots.
• WT shot 42.3% (22-of-52) from the field, 44.8% (13-of-29) from deep, 72.4% (21-of-29) from the charity stripe with 33 rebounds, 15 assists, six steals, four blocks, and 23 turnovers.
• Dallas Baptist shot 48.8% (39-of-80) from the floor, 25.0% (6-of-24) from the 3-point range, 65.0% (13-of-20) at the free throw line with 44 rebounds, 18 assists, 15 steals, two blocks, and 14 turnovers.

 
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