West Texas A&M dominated the day here in Frisco Sunday, capping off a championship sweep as the Buffaloes claimed the program’s first Lone Star Conference Men’s Basketball Championship title in 12 years with a hard-fought win over UT Permian Basin.
In a battle between the top two seeds, WT made crucial plays down the stretch, including a huge 3-pointer from David Chavlovich to pull out an 80-76 win over the Falcons.
Chavlovich, who was named tournament MVP after recording 21 points, nine rebounds and six assists, drilled his 3-pointer with 22 seconds to play to give WT a 77-73 edge. A three-point play by the Falcons cut the lead to one, but in the final 10 seconds, UTPB had a shot to either tie or win but couldn’t covert two layup opportunities. Gach Gach put the game away with two free throws in the final two seconds to secure the win.
It’s the seventh overall tournament title matching Midwestern State for the most in league history and first for the Buffaloes since 2006, which also happened to be the last time the same school claimed both the men’s and women’s titles in the same year. Earlier in the day, the Lady Buffs cut down the nets after beating Tarleton State, 80-66.
But the second game of the day had much more drama. The Falcons actually held the lead for the most of the first half and early in the second. The game changed dramatically when WT’s Jordan Evans drilled a 3-pointer to tie the game 60-60 with 8:05 to play. The Falcons were also called for an off-ball flagrant foul on the play, resulting in two more made free throws and a possession, which was another jumper by Evans. The seven-point play put WT in control and UTPB had an uphill battle from there. It got even worse for the Falcons, who lost two-time LSC Player of the Year Daeshon Francis with 6:38 to play. Francis scored 18 points and had 10 rebounds before fouling out, and was joined on the sidelines by both Josh Morris and Sammy Allen to fouls as well. Allen nearly brought his team to victory with an impressive 17-point, 19-rebound effort. Zeldric King scored 13 points, including big buckets and free throws in the final five minutes.
Chavlovich and Evans were the two WT standouts on the all-tournament team, joined by McPherson and Allen for UTPB and Reggie Reid for Texas A&M-Commerce.
The victory not only secured the championship for the Buffaloes, but the likely No. 1 seed in next week’s regional tournament, which is expected to be in Canyon. The official announcement will be made at 9:30 p.m. tonight on NCAA.com.
2018 Lone Star Conference Men’s Basketball Championship All-Tournament Team
Reggie Reid, Texas A&M-Commerce
Sammy Allen, UT Permian Basin
Daeshon Francis, UT Permian Basin
Jordan Evans, West Texas A&M
David Chavlovich, West Texas A&M (MVP)
West Texas A&M Notes
- West Texas A&M wins their seventh LSC Tournament Championship, which is tied for the most in the LSC with Midwestern State
- WT has appeared in the LSC Tournament final for a league-leading 12th time and is now 7-5 in those games
- Buffs are now 35-19 in the LSC Tournament historically
- WT 8-2 all-time against UTPB
- Buffs scored 19 points off 19 UT Permian Basin turnovers
- Jordan Evans led the Buffs in scoring with 21 points, marking the eighth time this season he has scored at least 20 points.
- David Chavlovich also finished with 21 points, marking the 16th time this season he has scored at least 20 points
UT Permian Basin Notes
- UT Permian Basin is now 5-1 all-time at the LSC Championships and ends the regular season 24-6.
- The Falcons went 1-2 against West Texas A&M this season
- With 18 points, Daeshon Francis is now the all-time leading scorer in UT Permian Basin history with 1,211
- Francis led UTPB in scoring with 18 points, adding 10 rebounds with five assists.
- Sammy Allen led all players with 19 rebounds and scored 17 points with six assists.
- Zeldric King scored a season-high 13 points in 19 minutes off the bench
- UTPB out-rebounded West Texas A&M 48-32 on the day, grabbing 13 offensive rebounds.
- The Falcons controlled the paint, scoring 48 points in the lane to giving up just 22.
- A night after committing a season-low three turnovers, the Falcons gave away possession 19 times, leading to 19 points off of turnovers