WICHITA FALLS, Texas – West Texas A&M men's basketball battled Midwestern State to the end, but the Mustangs' late surge held off the Buffs, 63-58. WT falls to 8-7 in Lone Star Conference play and 13-8 on the season with the loss.
 
The Leaders
Jailyn Sledge and Amir McMillian led the Buffs in scoring with each player scoring 13.  Kemper Jones hauled in a team-high nine rebounds while Sledge blocked a shot and McMillian dished out four assists.
 
How It Happened
Scoring proved to come at a premium in the opening minutes as both teams went to the first media timeout of the game tied at four. After the timeout, Midwestern State ripped off five points to take a lead before a Sledge three cut the difference down to two. WT wouldn't let the Mustangs race out to a large lead, keeping the game close with its three-point shooting. The back-and-forth action continued over the game's next minutes until the Buffs ended the half on a 14-2 run over the half's final four and a half minutes, sending WT to the locker room with a 36-29 lead.
 
After halftime, the teams exchanged points before an 8-2 streak from the Mustangs cut the Buffs' lead down to one. A McMillian floater in the lane restored the three-point lead as the game went to the under-12 media timeout. Midwestern State regained the advantage with 9:24 to play as free throws from Mason Gibson followed by a Pierre Sanders floater gave the Mustangs a three-point lead. Down the stretch, a Sledge three put WT on top for a possession before Midwestern State answered with a three of their own. After McMillian tied the game with a free throw, the Mustangs scored five unanswered points in 30 seconds, setting up a five-point game over the final 20 seconds. Free throws with 10 seconds to play sealed the game as Midwestern State defeated WT, 63-58.
 
WT returns to the First United Bank Center on Thursday, Feb. 6 when UT Permian Basin comes to town. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.
 
Inside the Box Score

• The Buffs lead the all-time series with Midwestern State, 45-36.
• Head coach Tom Brown moves to 11-8 against the Mustangs.
• WT shot 32.2% (19-of-59) from the field, 17.1% (6-of-35) from deep, 82.4% (14-of-17) from the charity stripe with 41 rebounds, nine assists, three steals, one block, and 12 turnovers.
• Midwestern State shot 34.6% (18-of-52) from the floor, 30.8% (14-of-13) from the 3-point range, 88.5% (23-of-26) at the free throw line with 35 rebounds, four assists, nine steals, three blocks, and nine turnovers.

 
FOLLOW THE BUFFS
Fans can follow and stay up to date on all the Buff action on online and on social media.  Follow the Buffs on X (@WestTXD2Hoops), Instagram (@WTAMU_MBB), and Facebook (/WTAMUMBB).