Canyon, TX – WNMU Men's Basketball scores season-high before falling against No. 5 West Texas A&M, 98-80. Cash Williams (Fresno, CA /Central East HS) lead the Mustangs in a career-high of 24 points.

Much of the game was within a couple of possessions and the Mustangs out-shot the Buffs 63% compared to WT's 58%. Rebounds and second-chance shots went West Texas's way, as the Buffs out rebound WNMU 28 to 20 and had four more second-chance points.

At halftime, WNMU was down 48-38, before cutting the lead to just four at the beginning of the second half. The Buffs then swang the momentum to their side, capitalizing on Mustang turnovers. WT cashed in 36 points and the 24 Mustang turnovers.

"We battled. We certainly had some really good stretches of basketball. The little things made the difference in this game" said Head Coach Zane Gibson. "Rebounding, turnovers, and knocking down free throws get overlooked a lot, but the really good team and players master those."

Five Mustangs scored in double-digits. Williams and Breion Powell (Austin, TX/Pflugerville Connally HS ) led the charge as they had a huge first half combing for 23 points and went 4-4 beyond the arc. Williams ended the afternoon with 24 pts and Powell ended with 14 points.

Fouls also hurt the Mustangs, totaling 22 on the day. WT made the most out of it, making WNMU pay by knocking down 22 free throws.

Buffs Joel Murray led all scorers with 26pts. Murray put the pressure on WNMU helping force turnovers. Qua Grant knocked down 18 and out-rebounded everyone on the court, grabbing seven boards. Jon'il Fugett shot the long ball all afternoon for the Buffs, hitting five three-pointers, ending the day with 23pts.

Mustangs to Highlight:
C. Williams: 24 pts, 1 reb, 5 ast, 2 stl, 1 blk
B. Powell: 14pts, 2 reb, 1 ast, 4 stl
I. Hohenstein: 10pts, 4 reb, 2 ast
Marvis Odia (Houston, TX/George Ranch HS): 11 pts, 2 reb, 1 ast, 5 TO
Tony Avalos (Las Cruces, NM/Onate HS): 10 Pts, 2 reb, 1 ast

"We are playing another really good team in a couple of days. Lubbock Christian does everything right and we have to come out prepared" Gibson acknowledges.

WNMU will continue their road trip going south on I-27 to Lubbock Christian for a two-game series starting on Thursday (2/11) and ending on Friday( 2/12), before making the trip to Wichita Falls, TX, taking on Midwestern State next Monday (2/15).