West Texas A&M Men

Buffs are back! Primed to keep winning

By LANCE LAHNERT 146-19.

That’s the eye-opening combined record of the West Texas A&M men’s basketball program over the past five years under head coach Tom Brown.

Brown and the Buffs of 2022-23 have their eyes set on continuing that ridiculous .884 winning percentage and making a run at an NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearance and a national title.

“Our goal, like every year, is to get into the regional tournament and to hopefully host the regional tournament,” said Brown, in his ninth season at WT this year. “Then you have to win three games to get to that Elite Eight. We just came up a little short last year.”

Last year WT rolled off a 29-7 record – “Those seven losses were a few too many for us,” Brown said – increasing its Lone Star Conference Tournament winning streak to five in a row and ending its season in the South Central Regional semifinals 91-77 to Black Hills State. The game was played at host Lubbock Christian.

Three leading scorers back

Returning off last year’s team are the top five of seven players in minutes played along with the three leading scorers in senior 5-10 guard Julius Brown, junior 5-11 guard Zach Toussaint and junior 6-4 guard Larry Wise.

“We have been fortunate to have players coming back recently,” Coach Brown said. “This year we are very fortunate to have three first-team all-conference players returning. And those with the

WEST TEXAS A&M BUFFS SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Time

Nov. 5 Northwest Missouri State @ Lakewood, Florida 7 p.m. Nov. 6 Florida Southern @ Lakewood, Florida 4:45 p.m. Nov. 14 Wayland Baptist 5:30 p.m. Nov. 21 Oklahoma Panhandle State 5:30 p.m. Nov. 26 Oklahoma Baptist 2 p.m. Dec. 1 UAFS 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3 Oklahoma Christian 3 p.m. Dec. 8 @ Texas A&M Kingsville 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10 Texas A&M International @ Laredo 3 p.m. Dec. 18 Missouri-St. Louis @ Las Vegas, Nevada 3:15 p.m. Dec. 19 Dominican @ Las Vegas, Nevada 12 p.m. Dec. 30 Midwestern State 7:30 p.m. Jan. 1 Cameron 3 p.m. Jan. 5 Angelo State @ San Angelo 7:30 p.m. Jan. 7 UT Permian Basin @ Odessa 3 p.m. Jan. 12 Western New Mexico 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14 Eastern New Mexico 3 p.m. Jan. 19 @ Dallas Baptist 7 p.m. Jan. 21 UT Tyler @ Tyler 3 p.m. Jan. 26 Cameron University @ Lawton, Oklahoma 7:30 p.m. Jan. 28 Midwestern State @ Wichita Falls 3 p.m. Jan. 31 Lubbock Christian @ Lubbock 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2 UT Permian Basin 7:30 p.m. Feb. 4 Angelo State 3 p.m. Feb. 9 Eastern New Mexico @ Portales, New Mexico 8:30 p.m. Feb. 11 Western New Mexico @ Silver City, N.M. 4 p.m. Feb. 16 St. Mary’s 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18 St. Edward’s 3 p.m. Feb. 23 Lubbock Christian 7:30 p.m. Mar. 3 LSC Quarterfinals TBD

Cameron Bell drives in West Texas A&M’s 83-73 win over Angelo State in the Lone Star Conference tournament March 3, 2022, at the Comerica Center in Frisco. (Photo courtesy of WTAMU Athletics)

minutes played means a lot that we have that experience. Now, I think it’s crucial to have new guys come in and help right away whether that’s a freshman or a transfer.”

Julius Brown emerged as the leader of the Buffs, not only fitting in after transferring from Lincoln Memorial, but thriving in the WT up-tempo style of play.

Julius Brown averaged a team-best 16 points a game earning D2CC All-American honors and named to the LSC first team, LSC Newcomer of the Year and LSC All-Defensive team.

The 5-10 guard recently was named the LSC preseason player of the year.

“When I think of Julius, I think of composure,” Coach Brown said. “I think a comfort level for me as a coach is knowing that he is going to take care of the basketball. And he can get his shot almost any time he wants. Yet, I think he does a great job of facilitating, and we need him to do that.

“He had a great year last year. It’s not going to come easy. He worked really hard to accomplish what he did last year. I think he had a little chip on his shoulder. If he doesn’t have that chip again, it will be tough. But this is it. This is his last go-round at the college level, and he wants to play professionally.”

Toussaint, a favorite with Buff fans, begins his fourth year in the WT program and always will be remembered for hitting the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer sending the Buffs to their first-ever national championship game in 2021. He started all 36 games for WT last year and has tremendous shooting skills, owning 219 made 3-pointers in his career. Last season he ranked third on the Buffs in scoring at 14.9 points a game.

“Zach is someone who brings work ethic,” Coach Brown said. “Because if he doesn’t work, he’s just an average, run-ofthe-mill 5-10 player. But he works at it. He puts the time in the gym, and he’s dedicated to it. It’s one of those things where he has the drive. And he has the shot.” (Continued on page 82)

(Continued from page 80)

Wise is the Silent Assassin, as the junior from Waxahachie is the quiet leader of the Buffs. He is coming off a season where he ranked second in scoring on the team, averaging 15.2 points a game. He averaged five rebounds a game, led WT in free throws made at 102 and earned first-team All-LSC honors.

“Larry had a great season last year,” Coach Brown said. “He’s a multiple defensive player and can guard a lot of guys. He really has that figured out. He can score at all three levels. And he’s just a very humble and modest kid who is very talented player.

“When all three are on the court at the same time it’s really nice, because all three can score. And no question about it, they have to be the leaders. Larry is not the most vocal, but he is a very good leader for us.”

Strong supporting cast

Also returning and logging strong minutes for the Buffs last year are sophomores 6-5 Jesse Iweze and 5-10 guard Cameron Bell and 6-3 redshirt junior Addison Wallace.

Bell was fourth in minutes played last year, earning a start and averaging 2.7 points and 1.3 rebounds. Iweze made 24 starts, played in 35 games and averaged 14.7 minutes a game (ranking eighth on the Buffs’ minutes played roster last year). He earned All-LSC freshman team honors, scoring 6.2 points and averaging 4.3 rebounds a game.

Wallace made four starts, saw action in 33 games, averaged 15.1 minutes of playing time (ranked seventh on the team) and averaged 4.7 points and 3.5 rebounds a game.

Plus, Coach Brown and his staff added three transfers and three true freshmen to their recruiting class.

Leading the transfers is 6-5 scoring machine Damion Thornton. The 6-5 senior guard (by the way, Coach Brown lists all his players as guards on the WT official roster) brings quite the resume to the Buffs, having spent the past three seasons at Southwestern Oklahoma State, where he departed as the all-time leading scorer with more than 1,400 points scored.

The other two transfers also look to have an impact on the Buffs’ season in a good way.

Junior guard 6-5 Ryland Holt arrives from Minnesota StateMankato, where he made 38 starts and averaged 11.5 points and 5.1 rebounds.

Sophomore 6-2 guard Journee Phillips is a San Antonio native and spent two seasons at Texas A&M International, where he averaged 19.1 minutes of playing time and 7.7 points.

The three freshmen joining the Buffs are 6-2 guard Nicholas Jett out of Frisco Heritage; 6-0 guard Ahamed Mohammed from Apollo High in Glendale, Arizona, where he departed as the alltime scorer in school history; and 6-3 guard Brock Mishak from Fossil Ridge High in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Rebounders will be missed

Coach Brown said the Buffs will miss the rebounding and overall play of the departed Dallin Williams, Hayden Blankley and Kavon Booker.

“It really hurts losing those three,” Coach Brown said. “We were one of the leading rebounders in the conference, and I don’t think that’s going to be the case this year. But so far, so good on the chemistry of this team. It takes a bit to work that out.”

Brown said the yearly turnover of the roster is the way of life in NCAA basketball these days with the transfer portal.

“At this level or any level, you could see the majority of a team returning, but it’s very unlikely these days,” he said. “There are going to be guys who want to play at a higher level. Guys who want more minutes, and it’s very easy to transfer. That’s the way it is.”

The Buffs’ coaching staff of Brown, associate head coach Chris Gove and assistant Quincy Henderson had been in place since day one when Brown was named coach on April 16, 2014.

Henderson departed after last year, landing a head coaching

Julius Brown Zach Toussaint Larry Wise West Texas A&M’s Zach Toussaint moves around an Angelo State defender in the Buffs’ 83-73 win over the Rams March 3, 2022, in the Lone Star Conference tournament at the Comerica Center in Frisco. (Photo courtesy of WTAMU Athletics)

West Texas A&M Buffs Roster Name, Ht., Pos., Class, Hometown

Journee Phillips, 6-2, G, Soph., San Antonio, Texas Jesse Iweze, 6-5, G, Soph., Roanoke, Texas Ahamed Mohammed, 6-0, G, Fr., Glendale, Arizona Brock Mishak, 6-3, G, Fr., Fort Collins, Colorado Julius Brown, 5-10, G, Sr., Westerville, Ohio Ryland Holt, 6-6, G, Jr., Gibson City, Illinois Parker Nielsen, 6-4, G, Soph., Prescott, Wisconsin Damion Thornton, 6-5, G, Sr., Edmond, Oklahoma Nicholas Jett, 6-2, G, Fr., Frisco, Texas Zach Toussaint, 5-11, G, Jr., Johnsburg, Illinois Jonas Carlisle, 6-2, G, Soph., San Antonio, Texas Cameron Bell, 5-10, G, Soph., Edmond, Oklahoma Addison Wallace, 6-3, G, Jr., Cleburne, Texas Larry Wise, 6-4, G, Jr., Waxahachie, Texas

Coach: Tom Brown Asst. Coaches: Chris Gove, David Chavlovich 2021-2022 record: 29-7, 11-5 82 College

(Continued from previous page) job at St. Cloud State. Coach Brown called on a familiar name to Buff fans to replace Henderson in David Chavlovich. “Coach Chav” is the all-time leading scorer in WT history with 2,490 points and was a four-time All-American. He played four seasons of pro ball in Croatia and Australia.

“Quincy was a staple in the program,” Coach Brown said. “David is going to be great. He has a lot of energy and is someone who enjoys being around the program and someone who played here and knows what our expectations are.

“I know it was tough for me going from a player to a coach. It’s totally different, and you see things through a different lens. David is a great fit. He’s going to be in charge of recruiting and on court and do many things you don’t see.”

With Coach Brown’s gaudy 181-43 overall record, success follows him around like a puppy dog following his owner after being lost. The Buffs have four Elite Eight appearances, a national runner-up effort and are the five-time defending LSC Tournament champs.

“You need time to jell a team together,” Coach Brown said.“The exhibition and early games are very important. But I really like this team. Time will tell, but I feel good about our chances.”

Cameron Bell Jonas Carlisle

Jesse Iweze Parker Nielsen Addison Wallace

Julius Brown of West Texas A&M shoots a layup in the Buffs’ 83-73 win over Angelo State March 3, 2022, in the Lone Star Conference tournament at the Comerica Center in Frisco. (Photo courtesy of WTAMU Athletics) In the top photo, Zach Toussaint floats a shot toward the basket with one second left in West Texas A&M’s game with Montana State-Billings Dec. 17, 2021, in the Holiday Hoops Classic at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the second photo, the ball has dropped through the net and the red border has flashed on the backboard indicating the end of the game. Damen Thacker of MSU-Billings had made a 3-pointer with 5.7 seconds left to tie it at 57, but the Buffs rushed down the court, and Toussaint’s prayer of a shot gave WT a 59-57 win. The Buffs had trailed 20-8 in the first half. (Photos by Mike Haynes)