Feb. 13, 2008

Box Score

WICHTA FALLS, Texas - Trailing by as many as nine in the second half, the West Texas A&M men's basketball team rallied to force overtime and in the extra period made their first five shots to earn a hard-fought 86-83 victory over Midwestern State at D.L Ligon Coliseum on Wednesday night.

The victory improves WT's overall record to 17-6 on the year and its mark in Lone Star Conference South Division play to 7-1. MSU, meanwhile, falls to 11-11 overall and 3-5 in league play.

Back-to-back three-pointers by Keon Grant and Tyler Cooper highlighted the Buffs' first two possession of the night giving them an early 6-2 advantage.

MSU battled back to take a 12-8 lead on a lay-up by Chris Davis at the 16:18 mark of the first half. The home surge continued as a basket by MSU at 9:51 gave them a 25-18 lead and forced a time out by WT coach Rick Cooper.

A three-pointer by Pierre Barlow with 49 seconds in the period to play tied the game at 36-36 and the Buffs were able to force a turnover on the ensuring MSU possession to get one last opportunity at the basket during the half. With only seven second remaining on the clock, Lee was fouled while driving to the basket. The Fort Worth, Texas, native made both free throw opportunities to send WT to the locker room leading by two at 38-36.

Lee was a force in the first half, scoring 15 points and making 7-of-8 free throw attempts in the period. For the game, the Fort Worth, Texas, native collected a team-high 30 points, doing much of his damage from the free throw line, where he was 14-of-17.

Back and forth action marked the opening minutes of the first half as the two teams exchanged field goals with neither team being able to pull away. MSU gained the upper hand with 15:30 to play as guard Nolan Richardson IV's three-pointer put the Mustangs up 47-42.

After an Andre Hill basket on the low block pulled the Buffs to within two at 47-45, Richardson sank another three to regain the give point MSU advantage at 50-45.

MSU was able to extend its lead to seven points 54-47, but a spectacular effort by Pierre Barlow cut it by three as he made a three-pointer after being fouled while making a lay-up. On the next possession, a steal by Tyler Cooper led to a wide open dunk slicing the MSU lead down to only two at 54-52.

The Mustangs responded with a 7-0 run to regain control of the contest at 61-52. The home lead would swell to as many as nine on three occasions, the last with 7:37 to play on a lay-up by Earl Rabb.

WT pulled within two points at 66-64 as Keon Grant converted a three-pointer the old fashion way, scoring while being fouled and making the ensuing free throw.

Lee pulled the Buffs to within one point, 68-67, by hitting one of two free throws with 1:22 to play, but a Richardson lay-up on the following possession put the Mustangs back up three points; however, Tyler Cooper broke free for a dramatic three-pointer with 42 second to play, tying the game at 70-70.

The Mustangs had the last opportunity to secure the victory in regulation, but a flurry of shots at the basket came up short and five more minutes were put on the clock.

After forcing a turnover on MSU's opening possession of overtime, it was Lee who put the Buffs up for the first time since the 19:22 mark of the second half. Following an MSU basket it was Lee again, draining a three pointer to put the Buffs up 75-72.

A pair of free throw cut the WT lead to only one, but again Lee dialed up a long distance field goal to put the Buffs up four, 78-74. Point guard Kyle Shields made it a six point advantage as he broke free on a back door play and converted an uncontested lay-up.

Hill pulled down a big rebound on MSU's next trip down the court and after good ball movement for WT, the ball found its way to Barlow, who drained a long distance shot to put the Buffs up, 83-74.

MSU scored the next six points to make it a one possession-game at 83-80, but Hill made one of two free throws to again put the Buffs up by four. MSU's Jeremy Ford made a three pointer on the Mustangs' next drive to make the score 84-83, but that would be as close as MSU would get as Barlow made a pair of free throws to secure the win.

The road-weary Buffs return home on Saturday to play their first game at the First United Bank Center since Jan. 23, as they host rival Eastern New Mexico.