CANYON – Wayland Baptist led by 12 points but West Texas A&M pulled away in the second half as the Buffs posted a 90-68 victory in an exhibition game Monday at First United Bank Center.
The 18
th-ranked Pioneers (3-0) scored 14 unanswered points midway through the first half to take a 30-18 lead. But WTAMU (0-2), ranked fifth in NCAA Division II, ended the half on a 16-4 run to tie it at intermission, 36-all.
The Buffs continued that momentum after the break and scored the first 10 points of the second half. WBU fell behind by 20, 63-43, with 13:22 left, and WT's largest lead was 25.
Wayland went cold in the second half. After hitting 6-of-13 3-pointers in the first 20 minutes, the Pioneers were 0-for-9 after intermission when WT was 7-of-13.
BJ Simmons scored 15 points, including 7-of-8 free throws, and
Dylan McDougal added 11 to lead the Pioneers.
All five WT starters scored in double figures, led by Zach Toussaint's 19 points. Damion Thornton recorded a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double.
It was the final tune-up for Wayland before the Pioneers open Sooner Athletic Conference play at 7:45 p.m. Thursday at University of North Texas-Dallas (2-2).
