CANYON, Texas – The #14 Buffaloes of West Texas A&M dropped their first Lone Star Conference contest of the season on Friday evening in a wild 84-81 overtime loss to the Western New Mexico Mustangs at Drag's Court in Silver City, New Mexico.
 
West Texas A&M opened the first half with a strong presence in the paint, scoring 16 points from that area, and displayed effective defense with four steals. Brock Mishak contributed with an early assist and jumper, while Fontaine Williams added both a layup and a 3-pointer to keep the score competitive. The visiting team capitalized on fast breaks, tallying six points in transition.
 
The half saw multiple lead changes and ties, with the Buffs generating momentum through a 10–2 run midway, highlighted by a 3-pointer from TJ Brown. Camden Cowgill's performance at the free-throw line further extended the lead. Despite a resilient effort from Western N.M., which included a late 3-pointer from Nolan Brown to tie the game, the Buffs maintained composure. The first half ended with both teams locked at 39 points.
 
WT began the second half aggressively, with Fontaine Williams converting a pair of free throws to keep the visitors within reach. A series of defensive stops, including steals by Williams and Zach Brown, allowed the Buffs to capitalize on turnovers, contributing to a scoring surge that tied the game at 56–56.
 
As the half progressed, the Buffs managed to pull ahead with a key 3-pointer from Brock Mishak and strong free-throw shooting by Zach Brown, extending the lead to 69–59. Despite Western New Mexico's attempts to close the gap, the Buffs maintained composure, with Brown and Williams adding crucial points from the free-throw line.
 
The half culminated in a tense finish as Western New Mexico evened the score at 71–71 with a jumper in the paint. A last-second attempt by the Buffs was blocked, leaving the half tied at 71–71. The half ended with both teams scoring 32 points, maintaining the overall tie.
 
WT opened the additional time with a narrow lead but quickly faced pressure as Western N.M. took the advantage with a jumper at 4:35, bringing the score to 73-71. Zach Brown responded with a crucial 3-pointer at 3:02 to close the gap to 76-75. Despite a strong defensive block from Brendan Ballard at 0:30, the Buffs trailed by one after Kemper Jones hit a 3-pointer at 0:57 to bring the score to 81-80.
 
As the game continued, Fontaine Williams narrowed the deficit to two points with a free throw at 0:04. However, Western N.M. capitalized on late free-throw opportunities, extending their lead. The additional time concluded with a missed 3-point attempt by Camden Cowgill as time expired, resulting in a final score of 84-81 in favor of Western New Mexico.
 
Fontaine Williams led with 26 points and added three steals, converting 8 of 10 free throws. Zach Brown contributed 15 points and recorded four total rebounds, making all six of his free-throw attempts. Brendan Ballard provided defensive support with two blocks and two steals. Kemper Jones scored 13 points, making 3 of 6 shots from beyond the arc.
 
The Buffs close out their weekend road trip on Sunday afternoon in Alpine, Texas as they take on the Lobos of Sul Ross State with tipoff set for 3:00 p.m. at the Gallego Center.