CANYAN, TEXAS - UT Tyler men's basketball earned a historic result Thursday night, knocking off West Texas A&M for the first win over the Buffs in program history with a 91–85 victory. The Patriots delivered one of their most complete performances of the season, shooting 59.6 percent from the field and getting timely contributions across the lineup behind a strong night from Kyle Morgan.
UT Tyler set the tone early by turning defense into quick offense. After forcing turnovers on the first possession, Sean Emfinger opened the scoring with a fast break layup before Morgan buried a three to give the Patriots early momentum with a score of 5-3. That spark led to a dominant stretch in the opening minutes as UT Tyler went on a 15–2 run, attacking the paint and capitalizing on West Texas A&M mistakes to build an early double digit advantage at 20-5.
The Patriots continued to push the tempo, with Emfinger and Xavier Williams repeatedly getting downhill and finishing at the rim. Hudson Anderson added energy inside, while Sam Phipps controlled the glass on both ends. UT Tyler kept the lead to 15 midway through the first half, forcing West Texas A&M to play catch up for much of the period.
West Texas A&M responded late in the half with a steady push fueled by second chance opportunities and trips to the free throw line. The Buffs chipped away at the deficit, but UT Tyler answered with timely buckets, including a pull up three from Morgan and strong interior finishes to maintain control. The Patriots carried a slim 38–35 lead into halftime after weathering the late run.
Coming out of the break, UT Tyler delivered one of its most important stretches of the night. Morgan opened the second half with another three, igniting a quick burst that pushed the lead back to double figures. Phipps scored on consecutive possessions, including a dunk off an Emfinger assist, as the Patriots surged ahead 52–42. UT Tyler's offensive efficiency was on full display, as the Patriots consistently found quality looks and finished at a high rate.
West Texas A&M refused to fold, answering with strong guard play and perimeter shooting to keep the game close. Each time the Buffs closed the gap, UT Tyler responded. Morgan knocked down another three to halt momentum, while Anderson and Noah Suarjaya provided key baskets to maintain a cushion.
The final eight minutes featured several momentum swings. After West Texas A&M tied the game at 65, UT Tyler stayed composed. John Barbee scored in the paint to reclaim the lead, and the Patriots followed with a defensive stop and multiple Morgan threes to regain control. Down the stretch, UT Tyler made winning plays on both ends, getting stops, securing rebounds on both ends, and converting at the free throw line to close out the victory.
In the closing minute, the Patriots were steady from the stripe, sealing the game and capping a night of high quality looks and free throws. UT Tyler finished the contest 28 of 39 at the free throw line, which was a key factor in holding off West Texas A&M's late push.
Morgan led the way with 23 points, shooting 6 of 9 from three point range while adding a steal and a block. Xavier Williams pitched in 18 points, providing key finishes in traffic throughout the night. Phipps added a double digit effort of his own with 10 points and 9 rebounds as the Patriots controlled the paint and the glass.
With the win, UT Tyler will continue its road trip on Saturday, traveling to face No. 18 ranked Eastern New Mexico at 4 p.m. CT.
