CANYON, Texas  Western Colorado University found more of its game in the second half Friday evening in a non-conference contest at West Texas A&M University, but the Mountaineers' 14-point halftime deficit proved to be a hole too large from which to rally.

The game is the first of two contests in three days between the Mountaineers and the Buffs, who will square off again Sunday afternoon at 12 p.m. MST.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: West Texas A&M def. Western Colorado, 83-64
Records: Western Colorado 0-1, West Texas A&M 4-0
Location: First United Bank Center; Canyon, Texas

HOW IT HAPPENED

• It wasn't that Western shot poorly or was outboarded on the glass. Turnovers, however, played a large role in the final gap on the scoreboard.
• The Mountaineers turned the ball over 19 times (WT only 8 times), and the Buffs made them pay heavily for those miscues, scoring 29 points against just 5 by Western off WT turnovers.
• A complement to WT's thievery were its 14 fast break points – again, to just 5 by Western.
• The Mountaineers had gotten off to a solid start in their season opener. They either led or were tied with the Buffs up until WT broke an 8-8 tie. Still, though, Western led 15-14 nearing the halfway point of the first half.
• A 27-12 run over the remainder of the opening frame tilted things WT's way, allowing the Buffs to head into the break leading by 14, at 41-27.
• Western improved its shooting over the final 20 minutes, 46 percent to a 32 percent first half, but were never able to eat into the deficit, not while the Buffs registered two equal halves of shooting 43% from the floor.

STATS AND STUFF

• Avery Rembao, with a team-high 13 points, and Elijah Davidson, with 10, reached double digits in scoring for Western.
• Davidson earned his first double-double of the season by ripping down a game-best 12 rebounds. He also had two blocks in the contest.
• Matthew Ragsdale was unable to get on track from beyond the arc, 1-for-7, but he still finished with eight points, while chipping in with four rebounds and two assists. All four of his rebounds were on the offensive glass, giving Western second-chance opportunities.
• Grant Wilkinson finished the opener 2-for-2 from long range and added three rebounds in his nine-point night.

NEXT UP
The Mountaineers and Buffs will have a rest day on Saturday before suiting up again for a rematch Sunday afternoon.