DALLAS – West Texas A&M men's basketball saw its season come to end in the NCAA Tournament with a 74-62 defeat at the hands of the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers. The Buffs end the 2024-25 campaign with a 19-12 mark while the Orediggers advance with a 28-4 record.
 
The Leaders
Three Buffs reached double-digit scoring on Saturday afternoon led by a game-high 18 from Ahamed Mohammed. Narit Chotikavanic (13) and Noah Pagotto (11) also ended their day in double figures. Pagotto hauled in a team-high nine rebounds while Mohammed posted a team-high seven assists and Chotikavanic converted three steals.
 
How It Happened
The two teams exchanged blows to start the game with each side holding a lead in the game's first five minutes. After a Mohammed jumper, Mines started an 11-0 run over two minutes to take a 10-point lead with 11:25 to play in the half. WT did its best to cut into the lead, bringing it down to four at the 10-minute mark. The Orediggers pushed their lead back to double digits following the WT bucket, leading 25-15 with seven minutes to go. Throughout the remainder of the first half, the Buffs kept up with Mines with the Orediggers taking a nine-point lead into halftime.
 
WT came out of the break with a renewed energy as the Buffs scored the half's first nine points, tying the game at 33 with 16:45 to play. Mines answered right back, knocking down a pair of threes to restore its lead. WT would continue to fight back in the game, cutting the lead down to one with 11 minutes left in the regional quarterfinal. With 8:38 to play, an Oredigger three capped off a 9-0 streak and brought the Mines' lead back to double digits. From that point, the Orediggers started to control the pace of play as the clock ticked down. WT started to build momentum with four minutes to go as Pagotto converted a layup and brought the score back within six. Despite the late push, Mines would close out the game, advancing with a 74-62 victory.
 
Inside the Box Score

• The Buffs lead the all-time series with Colorado School of Mines, 10-3.
• Head coach Tom Brown moves to 1-2 against the Orediggers.
• WT shot 31.7% (19-of-60) from the field, 36.4% (8-of-22) from deep, 72.7% (16-of-22) from the charity stripe with 30 rebounds, 10 assists, five steals, two blocks, and seven turnovers.
• Colorado School of Mines shot 45.6% (26-of-57) from the floor, 45.8% (11-of-24) from the 3-point range, 73.3% (11-of-15) at the free throw line with 39 rebounds, 18 assists, six steals, three blocks, and 11 turnovers.

 
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