Off to its first 2-0 start since the 2017-2018 season, the Sul Ross State men's basketball team took down the Oklahoma Panhandle State University Aggies, 60-55, during the home opener Monday night at the Pete P. Gallego Center.
>> HOW IT HAPPENED:
The contest featured 11 lead changes.
Oklahoma Panhandle got out to a 5-0 lead until the Lobos went on a 6-0 run that began with a layup by
Bryce Harris.
Using a 6-0 run of their own, the Aggies took a five-point lead.
After two made free throws by
Trey Nelson, Sul Ross State trailed by three. Oklahoma Panhandle then hit a three-pointer.
Gabe Sanchez stepped up and landed a three-pointer that started another 6-0 run by the Lobos, which gave them a one-point lead with 5:50 to go.
Using another three-pointer, the Aggies gained a two-point lead.
Sanchez made two key free throws and then
Omar Ibarra followed up with a layup to give Sul Ross State a two-point lead.
In the final five minutes there were five different lead changes until
Manny Flores knocked down a jumper in the paint with 11 seconds to go to put the Lobos on top by one entering halftime.
The Aggies tied up the game early in the second half at 27-all.
Nelson then came into the clutch with a three-pointer and then a few minutes later Sanchez landed another shot from beyond the arc to give Sul Ross State a five-point lead.
With 11:53 on the clock, Oklahoma Panhandle State cut the deficit to one. On an assist from Ibarra,
Myles Amason later extended the Lobo lead to two with a jumper in the paint.
Sul Ross State went out ahead by six with nine minutes left after Ibarra made a layup on the fast break.
The Aggies started to inch back into the contest by trailing 46-45 with 6:30 to go.
Oklahoma Panhandle State then took a one-point lead on a made layup.
Tyler Jackson got a three-point play after being fouled on a made shot in the paint, which gave Sul Ross State a two-point lead.
The game was tied one more time before the Lobos pulled ahead by five to escape with the win.
>> RECORDS: Sul Ross State (2-0); Oklahoma Panhandle State University (2-2)
>> POSTGAME INTERVIEWS:
"We preached effort and execution, defense creating our offense and coach
Jake Lopez did a good job on the scouting ... got us in the right direction and we were able to execute on the defensive end and then knock down free throws at the stretch. We had a pretty honest film session after our defensive effort against UTPB. I think that's what filtered into this game. That's what we were really focused in on for today's game was our defensive effort." —
Head coach Xavier Webb
"It feels pretty good. We just locked in on defense at the end. We just had to make sure we don't lose in the Gallego. We got three stops in a row to ice the game. We got to lock in a little more on defense. It was a great team win." —
Trey Nelson
"We were just happy to get things going on the right foot. Coach Webb always tells us that we build everything off our defense. For us to do it at home was big time down the stretch. We just stuck to our principles and we pulled it out. We're all invested, practices are competitive. The culture has changed completely and we're running with that and going to see where it takes us." —
Gabe Sanchez
>> GAME NOTES:
- Nelson led the way with 18 points, four rebounds and two assists while he finished 11 for 13 from the free throw line.
- Sanchez made three 3-pointers to chip in with 15 points, two assists and four rebounds.
- Deveraux Minix grabbed a team-best eight rebounds, seven came on the defensive end.
- Ibarra added with six rebounds and three assists.
- The battle on the boards was close as the Aggies had 36 to Sul Ross State's 35.
- Sul Ross State finished 16 of 20 from the free throw line.
- Hayden Peterson grabbed three steals while Cailean Ables had two.
- The Lobos got 32 points off the bench.
- The last time the Lobos began the season 2-0 was during the 2017-2018 campaign when Sul Ross State finished 22-7 overall.
>> UP NEXT: The Lobos host Texas Lutheran at 4 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 24 to continue their seven-game homestand.
