West Texas A&M Men's Basketball to host Oklahoma Panhandle State

CANYON, TEXAS — A clutch three-pointer with eight seconds remaining and a defensive rejection at the final buzzer capped off a flawless opening weekend for the West Texas A&M men’s basketball team, setting the stage for their upcoming home debut.

The Buffaloes enter their first home game of the 2026–27 season with an unblemished 3–0 record after sweeping the D2CCA Midwest Tip-Off Classic in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, according to official reports from gobuffsgo.com. West Texas A&M will host Oklahoma Panhandle State on Monday, November 9, with tipoff scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at the First United Bank Center.

Building a 3–0 Resume on the Road

The Buffs opened their campaign on October 30 by defeating receiving-votes Lincoln Memorial 75–63. James Parlow Jr. paced the offense with 17 points on 8-of-13 shooting, while Ryder Cheesman added 15 points and seven rebounds. West Texas A&M used an 11-0 run in the first half to seize control and held the Railsplitters to just 34.6% shooting in the second frame.

One day later, hot shooting propelled West Texas A&M past Central Oklahoma 81–70. After falling into an early 7-0 hole, the Buffs responded from beyond the arc. Joel Robinson tallied a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Max George chipped in 16 points behind four three-pointers.

The toughest test came on November 1 against No. 17 Grand Valley State. Trailing down the stretch, Logan Gibson drained a dramatic three-pointer with eight seconds left off an assist from Parlow Jr. to put the Buffs ahead 71–70. Parlow then blocked a Grand Valley State jumper in the paint, and the West Texas A&M defense forced a turnover as time expired to seal the victory.

Players Earn Tournament Honors and Milestones in Wisconsin

Following their strong showing in Wisconsin, tournament organizers named Logan Gibson, Joel Robinson, and James Parlow Jr. to the All-Tournament Team, with Gibson taking home Tournament MVP honors. Gibson averaged 11.7 points and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 75% from the floor across the three games.

Meanwhile, junior guard Jailyn Sledge continued his climb up the program’s all-time defensive lists. Sledge pushed his career steals total to 99, passing Matt Midson for 15th place in school history. The Amarillo native is also tied for 10th in career blocks with 63, putting him on track to crack the top five in both statistical categories this season.

Looking Ahead to the Lone Star Conference Slate

Head Coach Tom Brown, entering his 13th season at the helm, guides the Buffaloes back to Canyon after being projected to finish seventh in the ultracompetitive Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll. DBU claimed the top spot in the poll with 35 first-place votes. West Texas A&M is coming off a 20-11 campaign last year that ended in the LSC tournament against Eastern New Mexico.

The roster features nine newcomers this season, blending local talent like Texas El Paso transfer KJ Thomas with fresh faces from major programs, including Max George from Baylor and Ryder Cheesman from Missouri State.

Fans unable to attend Monday’s home opener in person can stream the action live on Flo Sports, with live statistics provided directly by West Texas A&M.