West Texas A&M (14-7, 6-5) vs. #24 Dallas Baptist (15-6, 9-2)
Date	Saturday, January 31 | 3:00 p.m.
Location	Canyon, Texas | First United Bank Center
Follow Along	Live Stats
Watch Live	FloCollege (Pay-Per-View)
Additional Links	Game Notes

CANYON, Texas – The Buffaloes of West Texas A&M look to rebound on Saturday afternoon as they battle the #24 Dallas Baptist Patriots with tipoff set for 3:00 p.m. in Canyon in Lone Star Conference action.
 
UT TYLER REWIND
The Buffaloes of West Texas A&M dropped a 91-85 Lone Star Conference decision to the UT Tyler Patriots on Thursday night at the First United Bank Center in Canyon, Texas. Fontaine Williams Jr. led the team with 27 points, converting all 11 of his free throw attempts. Camden Cowgill added 16 points while making three 3-pointers. Brock Mishak contributed 12 points and recorded five rebounds. James Parlow Jr. made an impact defensively with two steals and added 11 points before fouling out.
 
SCOUTING THE PATRIOTS
Dallas Baptist enters the weekend with an overall record of 15-6 including a 9-2 mark in Lone Star Conference play to sit tied atop of the league standings. The Patriots are 6-2 so far this season away from the Burg Center in Dallas. 
 
Thursday night saw the Patriots snap a two-game win streak as Eastern New Mexico hit a three as time expired to claim a 76-73 victory. Dallas Baptist went 29-of-58 (50%) from the floor including 9-of-25 (36%) from behind the arc but ENMU outscored the Patriots 44-34 in the paint. Xavion Brown led the offensive charge for DBU, going 7-of-11 from the field for a team-best 14 points to go along with five rebounds, eight assists and a block.
 
Drew Calderon leads the way offensively for the Patriots as the senior guard from The Woodlands, Texas has gone 71-of-174 (40.8%) from the field including 57-of-142 (40.1%) from behind the arc and 33-of-43 (76.7%) from the free throw line to average 11.0 points per game to go along with 42 rebounds, 26 assists and 26 steals. Calderon has reached double-figures in each of the last five games, he scored a season-best 20 points against St. Mary's back on December 11th.
 
DBU HEAD COACH DR. BLAKE FLICKNER
Dr. Blake Flickner is in his 20th season as the Head Men's Basketball Coach at Dallas Baptist University, where he has built one of the premier programs in NCAA Division II basketball. Over 19 seasons at the helm, Flickner has compiled an impressive 395-223 record, guiding the Patriots to the NCAA Division II Tournament nine times, including eight of the past 10 seasons.
 
Under Flickner's leadership, DBU reached new heights in 2025, advancing to the NCAA Division II National Semifinals after capturing the South Central Regional Championship and sweeping both the Lone Star Conference regular-season and tournament titles. His teams have also claimed three Lone Star Conference Division championships.
 
THE SERIES
Saturday afternoon marks the 11th all-time meeting on the hardwood between the Buffs and Patriots. WT holds an 8-2 advantage in a series that dates back to 2020. Dallas Baptist is 0-5 all-time at the First United Bank Center with their last trip to the Panhandle coming in 2024.
 
Last year's meeting saw Patriots shoot 48.8% (39-of-80) from the floor as they forced 23 West Texas A&M turnovers and outrebounded the Buffs 44-34 in a 97-78 victory at the Burg Center in Dallas. Jailyn Sledge led the way for the Buffs, going 5-of-10 from the floor including 4-of-7 from behind the arc for a team-best 17 points with five rebounds, two blocks and a steal.
 
WT HEAD COACH TOM BROWN
Tom Brown, now in his 12th season at the helm of the West Texas A&M men's basketball program, has built the Buffs into one of the elite NCAA Division II programs in the nation.  He has guided WT to nine consecutive NCAA Tournaments including the Buffs first-ever NCAA Division II National Championship game in 2021. 
 
Brown was hired as the 17th head coach in program history on April 16, 2014. In the past 10 seasons, Coach Brown and his staff are 279-69 (.804) and an average of 27 wins a season with appearances in the Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Final Four (2) and National Title game. During his time in Canyon, Brown is 299-82 (.787) overall and 160-48 (.773) in league action. 
 
LSC PRESEASON POLL
Defending Regional Champion Dallas Baptist claimed 42 of the possible 51 first place votes for a total of 850 points to sit atop of the poll followed by St. Mary's (two first place, 724), Lubbock Christian (four first place, 720), St. Edward's (669) and West Texas A&M (two first place, 654) to round out the top five.
 
Angelo State and Eastern New Mexico tied for sixth with 592 points followed by Midwestern State (558), UT Permian Basin (468), Texas A&M International (one first place, 350), Texas A&M-Kingsville (330), Cameron (301), Oklahoma Christian (266), UT Tyler (260), Western New Mexico (193), UT Dallas (188) and Sul Ross State (88).
 
NABC DIVISION II TOP-25 POLL
The Buffaloes are receiving votes in this week's edition of the National Basketball Coaches Association (NABC) Division II Top-25 Poll announced on Tuesday afternoon. The South Central Region is represented by Lubbock Christian (11th), Eastern New Mexico (19th), Black Hills State (21st), St. Edward's (25th), Dallas Baptist ((RV), West Texas A&M (RV) and St. Mary's (RV).
 
LIVE COVERAGE 
The LSC and FloSports reached a historic agreement in August of 2024 for the largest streaming rights deal in NCAA Division II history. Fans have two different subscription options: $19.99 per month or $107.88 per year ($8.99/month). Additionally, those who use an .edu email address from an LSC member institution will be able to sign up at a discounted subscription price of $9.99 per month or $71.88 per year ($5.99/month).
 
LONE STAR CONFERENCE NEWS & NOTES
Due to the winter storm sweeping across the league, just 10 Lone Star Conference men's basketball games were played last week. The games not played will all be rescheduled.
 
DBU (15-5 overall) remains in first place in the league standings at 9-1. No. 19 Eastern New Mexico (15-3) and No. 11 Lubbock Christian (17-3) are tied for second at 8-2. Western New Mexico (14-4) is alone in fourth place at 8-3.
 
WNMU has won a league-high four games in a row, while ENMU has prevailed in three consecutive games. DBU, Texas A&M-Kingsville and UT Permian Basin have won back-to-back games.
 
ENMU has not lost away from home, going 10-0. West Texas A&M is a perfect 10-0 at home.
 
In non-conference play, LSC teams have gone 40-24 against Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference teams.