LSC Men's Basketball Championship Central

Perfect in both January and February so far in 2020, West Texas A&M kicked off its March with another dominating win in the quarterfinal round of the LSC Championship.

The No. 1 seeded Buffaloes, seeking their third straight tournament title in Frisco, won their 21st consecutive game, cruising past No. 8 seed Texas A&M-Commerce, 85-72 at Comerica Center.

With LSC Player of the Year Qua Grant on the bench most of the first half in foul trouble, WT’s Joel Murray picked up the slack. The fellow first-team All-LSC selection tied his career-high with 32 points to lead all scorers. Murray also just missed a double-double with nine rebounds. Grant wasn’t far behind, netting 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Derrick Geddis added 12 and freshman Zach Toussaint came off the bench to score 10.

The Buffs (30-1) advance to Saturday’s semifinal round to face the winner of Angelo State/Lubbock Christian.  With an 18-12 record, the season ends for the Lions, who were not among the Top 10 in last week’s regional rankings. WT is currently No. 1 in the region and is hoping to host the regional in Canyon.

Friday night, the Buffs won with defense as they forced 20 turnovers, plus an efficient shooting night that featured nine 3-pointers and hitting 20 of 25 free throws.

The Lions owned the glass, however, outrebounding WT 35-28. But that was about the only stat the Lions held in this game. Aside from an early lead in the first five minutes, Commerce had trouble staying with the high-powered Buffaloes, who beat Commerce two weeks ago on the road, 93-72. 

On Friday night, WT pushed its second-half lead up to 26 at one point but the Lions trimmed it down to 11 before the Buffs pulled away late.

“We got after it and played pretty physical in the second half,” WT head coach Tom Brown, who was named LSC Coach of the Year for the third straight year. “I give (Commerce) credit for fighting back in the game. But I think (Murray) and some of the rest of the guys really stepped up to put the game away.”  

A&M-Commerce had four players in double figures, led by Wayne Stewart’s 19 points. Deonta Terrell had 14, while Darnell Wright (11) and Austin Grandstaff (10) came off the bench to help the Lions.
 
WT Notes:  

• Joel Murray not only tied his career-high with 32 points but is tied for the second-most points by a WT player in LSC Championship play. Only Damien Lolar (2006) had more with a 34-point performance. Last year, Brandon Lee scored 32 in the finals against the Lions.
• WT is looking to become just the second team in LSC Championship history to win three straight tournament titles. The last team to accomplish that feat was Abilene Christian in 1985-87.
• The Buffs extended their program record to 21 consecutive wins, dating back to a Dec. 12 loss at St. Edward’s, the current No. 2 seed in this tournament.

 
A&M-Commerce Notes:  

• For the third consecutive year, the Lions have been bounced by WT in the LSC Championship. Last year, they lost 57-55 and were ousted in the semifinals in 2018.
• The Lions advanced to Frisco after a 77-73 win over UAFS.
• Wayne Stewart might have played his last game for the Lions, but the senior is a finalist in the 2020 “Dark Horse Dunker” contest.