Tarleton State’s 10-0 run to start the game wasn’t the difference in Friday night’s semifinal with West Texas A&M, which fought back to keep it close by halftime.

        But it was the Texans total domination in the second half – outscoring the Buffs 39-20 - that proved to be the major difference Tarleton’s 59-37 win, advancing them to Saturday night’s championship game.

        The 37 points allowed were the fewest in LSC championship history, erasing the previous mark of 40-points recorded by Abilene Christian (1981) and Angelo State (1982).

        Tarleton improves to 26-4 and will face the winner of Midwestern State/Cameron Saturday at 7 p.m.

        The Buffaloes fall to 19-8 and will now await the final South Central Region rankings for a possible spot in next week’s regional tournament. WT currently ranks seventh with eight teams advancing.

        The Texans scorched the nets in the second half, hitting 64 percent from the floor (18-of-28) to pull away from the Buffs, who shrugged off an early start in the first half to trim TSU’s halftime lead to 20-17.

        But in the second half, the Texans spread the wealth, with nine different players finding the scoring column. Brian Word led the scoring with 16 points and six rebounds. Fabian Wilson had nine points and a team-high seven rebounds. Overall, the Texans dominated the glass to a 36-21 advantage.

        And West Texas never could find its way from 3-point land. The Buffaloes made their first and only 3-pointer with 11 seconds remaining in the game, finishing 1-of-11. Donald Sims was the only WT player in double figures with 10 points.

·         Tarleton is making its third straight trip to the tournament finals and eighth overall, with one title in 2004.

·         The 37 points allowed by Tarleton were the fewest in LSC championship history, erasing the previous mark of 40-points recorded by Abilene Christian (1981) and Angelo State (1982).

·         Tarleton State and West Texas A&M split the regular-season meetings, with TSU winning, 59-56, in Stephenville and WT winning, 62-53, in Canyon.

·         Tarleton State is 2-0 in neutral-site games this season - with both of those games taking place in the Lone Star Conference Championships in Allen, TX. TSU defeated Texas A&M-Kingsville, 67-55, in the quarterfinals of the LSC tournament on February 29th.

·         20-17 was the lowest halftime score in the three matchups between the Texans and the Buffaloes this season (33-28, TSU, on 1/7/12; 25-25 on 2/18/12).

·         Brian Word's 16 points were more than he scored in both regular-season meetings between the two teams combined (9 points on 1/7/12 and 1 point on 2/18/12).

·         Tarleton State's defense held West Texas to 37 points in the semifinal matchup, the lowest total for the Buffs against the Texans in all three meetings in the 2011-12 season and the lowest point-total for the Buffs since the 2009 season (42 points, twice).

·         On the flip side the TSU offense scored 59 points - the same total they scored in the 59-56 victory over WT on their home court on 1/7/12. They did not break the 60-point mark in any game vs. the Texans all year.

·         The Texans are now 4-3 when scoring 50-59 points in a game and 5-2 when leading at halftime this season.

·         TSU now holds a 3-2 series advantage when playing West Texas in the Lone Star Conference Championship.

·         West Texas scored its first point on a Donald Sims tip-in at the 11:51 mark in the first half – its longest drought to start a game this season.

·         17 first half points is the fewest the Buffaloes have scored all season.

·         WTAMU went on a 17-10 in the remaining 11:49 of the first half after beginning the game down 10-0.

·         2-3 All-time versus Tarleton State in the LSC Championship.

·         Leading scorer Donald Sims scored in double digits for the 22^nd time this season.

·         The Buffaloes scored only 37 points, their lowest scoring output in over three seasons, and the fewest in LSC championship history, erasing the previous mark of 40-points recorded by Abilene Christian (1981) and Angelo State (1982).

·          The Buffaloes only grabbed 21 total rebounds in the game, its lowest total on the season.

·          WTAMU went only 2-of-9 from the free throw line, its fewest attempts and makes for the year. The 22.0 percent from the charity stripe is also a season-low.

“We played very well tonight. Made some adjustments at half time and played smart, tough basketball the second half.”

“Honor to be here again. It’s a special moment to make it 3 years in a row.”

“It’s real tough. Always going to be tough against WT. Have to be ready to play every night.”

“We played good inside. Team stepped up defense in the second half.”

On the dunk—what are you calling it?

“They just beat us bad in the second half. We couldn’t keep them off the offensive glass. It was a great half of basketball by Tarleton State. They took us out of what we wanted to do. They had too many offensive rebounds. When they got offensive rebounds they turned them into layups.

“I think what we try to do is similar to them. They just did them better than we did. When someone compares us to Tarleton State I am pleased. I am too old and have been doing this too long to make comparisons.”

“When we were down three we had that drought. If we could have made a free throw or a shot….they not only play good defense but are extremely, extremely efficient with the ball. “

“Playing here has been a good experience for our players because of the great efforts of everyone here in Allen.”

“They are a really good defensive team. They were there when we came off screens. We knew it would be a physical game, a slugfest. We knew that coming in.”

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