TYLER, Texas – West Texas A&M men's basketball team held off a second-half comeback from the UT Tyler Patriots to secure a 79-71 Lone Star Conference victory. The Buffs improve to 8-5 in conference play with a 13-6 mark overall on the season.
 
The Leaders
Three Buffs reached double-digit scoring on Saturday afternoon led by a game-high 26 from Noah Pagotto. Narit Chotikavanic (18) and Ahamed Mohammed (16) also ended their day in double figures with each player grabbing five boards. Mohammed dished out a game-high three assists while Jailyn Sledge blocked two shots with two steals.
 
How It Happened
UT Tyler opened the scoring with six unanswered points before a Mohammed free throw put WT on the board. Mohammed converted a driving layup for the Buffs' first field goal of the afternoon. After the first media timeout of the game, both teams went on a scoring drought for nearly four minutes of action before a Mohammed jumper tied the game with 13 minutes to play in the half followed by a Pagotto layup to put WT on top for the first time. The Patriots would regain the lead, but a Bob Griechen three with a foul brought the Buffs back within five at the under-eight minute media timeout. As the clock reached the five-minute mark, the Buffs kickstarted an 8-0 run to take a five-point lead with three and a half to play in the period. Before the half ended, Mackenzie Morgan found Pagotto for a layup to send the Buffs into the locker room with a 39-30 lead.
 
After halftime, the Buffs extended their lead to double digits with four quick points. The WT lead floated around the 10-point mark until a 5-0 streak from UT Tyler brought the game back within six at the under-12 minute media timeout. As the second half continued, the Patriots continued to fight back and cut into the Buffalo lead. With just over six and a half minutes to play, UT Tyler brought the game back within five only to be answered by a Mohammed layup. With the Patriots threatening, five points from Pagotto pushed the WT lead back to double digits. UT Tyler would bring the lead to eight, but Pagotto converted two free throws to extend the lead back to 10 with two and a half to play. Two Chotikavanic free throws with 17 seconds sealed the deal as the Buffs held off the Patriots 79-71.
 
The Buffs rematch with Lubbock Christian on Thursday, Jan. 30 for the second part of the Rivalry on the Range series. WT and the Chaps will kick action off at 7:30 p.m. at the Rip Griffin Center in Lubbock.
 
Inside the Box Score

• The Buffs lead the all-time series with UT Tyler, 5-0.
• Head coach Tom Brown moves to 5-0 against the Patriots.
• WT shot 46.0% (23-of-50) from the field, 40.0% (8-of-20) from deep, 61.0% (25-of-41) from the charity stripe with 30 rebounds, nine assists, seven steals, two blocks, and eight turnovers.
• UT Tyler shot 48.1% (26-of-54) from the floor, 41.2% (7-of-17) from the 3-point range, 70.6% (12-of-17) at the free throw line with 38 rebounds, six assists, four steals, three blocks, and 17 turnovers.

 
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