College basketball: UTPB men lose to West Texas A&M

CANYON The UTPB men’s basketball team couldn’t maintain a fast start Friday while falling 74-51 to host West Texas A&M in the opening game of the WT Thanksgiving Classic at the First United Bank Center.

The Falcons (0-3) led 12-9 about midway through the first half after Austin Williams converted a 3-point play, but West Texas A&M (2-3) closed the half on a 22-7 run and led by double figures the rest of the way.

UTPB was led by 15 points and five rebounds by Elijah Joran, while Keenan Gay had 12 points.

West Texas A&M got 14 points from Bijan Dotson and 13 from LaDarius Hall.

The Falcons close out play in the tournament at 4 p.m. today against Adams State (Colo.), which lost to Southwestern Oklahoma State in Friday’s other game. 

>> West Texas A&M 74, UTPB 51 

At West Texas A&M Thanksgiving Classic

First United Bank Center, Canyon

UTPB (0-3)

Kennan Gay 5 2-7 12, Josh Hinojos 1 1-2 4, Luther Thomas 1 0-0 3, Elijan Joran 7 0-0 15, Mihai Urichainu 1 2-4 4, Mark Avalos 0 1-2 1, Charles Harper 2 0-1 5, Austin Williams 3 1-1 7. Totals 20 7-17 51.

WEST TEXAS A&M (2-3)

Jacquiese Holcombe 3 1-1 7, Joe Mincey 1 7-8 9, Nick Burns 4 1-1 11, Bijan Dotson 7 0-0 14, Alex Davis 3 2-3 8, LaDarius Hall 5 0-0 13, Jordan Ashmore 1 0-0 3, Chris Tucker 0 0-0 0, Tory Fernandez 1 0-0 3, Mason White 1 0-0 2, Kendall Cogburn 0 0-0 0 Donnie Kidd 2 0-0 4, Justin Tubb 0 0-0 0. Totals 28 11-13 74.

Halftime — West Texas A&M 31, UTPB 19. 3-Point goals — UTPB 4 (Hinojos 1, Thomas 1, Joran 1, Harper 1), West Texas A&M 7 (Hall 3, Burns 2, Ashmore 1, Fernandez 1). Total fouls — UTPB 12, West Texas A&M 17. Rebounds — UTPB 20 (Joran 5), West Texas A&M 28 (Kidd 6). Assists — UTPB 15 (Thomas 4), West Texas A&M 21 (Tucker 4).