Tuesday, December 30, 2014

PORTALES, N.M. — With the 2014 calendar year winding down, the Eastern New Mexico University men's basketball team (6-5) will host Colorado State University-Pueblo and South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, prior to the start of Lone Star Conference play. In the two home games, the Greyhounds will look to avenge a pair of road losses from earlier in the season.
 
Junior guard Chris Wyms (Carson, Calif. / Drew HS / Cerritos College) was selected as the LSC Offensive Player of the Week, earlier in the month, after ENMU's win at University of Texas of the Permian Basin. He was the first Greyhound to claim LSC offensive honors, since Rodney Blackmon on February 12, 2013.
 
Fast Facts
ENMU Athletics
ENMU Men's Basketball
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• Eastern has reached the 100-point mark twice this season. The Hounds haven't done that twice in a season since 2011-12 against University of the Southwest and Oklahoma Panhandle
• The last time ENMU reached 100-points three times in a season came in 1996-97, with games against National Christian, Central Oklahoma and Angelo State
• Eastern has reached 90 points five times this year and is 5-0 in those games. Last season, the Hounds reached 90 points just three times, last season.
• The Greyhounds also are 5-0 this season in games decided by eight points or less. Last season, ENMU posted a 6-8 record in those games last season.
• The Greyhounds have come from behind to win three games, in which they trailed by six or more points, which includes a 14-point deficit at Texas-Permian Basin.

 
 
Colorado State-Pueblo Thunderwolves
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Colorado Stat-Pueblo enters this week's game with a 7-4 mark and is 3-2 against LSC teams. CSU-P split with both Midwestern State and West Texas A&M, with all three wins (including the win over the Hounds) coming at home. The Thunderwolves are currently on a two-game win streak.
 
Last season, the Thunderwolves finished 15-12 with a 13-9 mark in RMAC play, to finish fifth. CSU-P defeated Regis in the RMAC shootout, before falling to Fort Lewis in the quarterfinals.
 
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology Hardrockers
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South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is currently 3-9 and will visit Tarleton State and Midwestern State, prior to visiting ENMU.
 
Last season, South Dakota Mines posted a 6-20 record.
 
 
Inside the Series
 
The Greyhounds are 8-17 against Colorado State-Pueblo and have split the last two meetings. Earlier in the season, the Thunderwolves handed ENMU a 109-81 setback at Massari Arena and were led by 21 points and five rebounds from Josh Smith.  The Greyhounds were paced by 18 points from Demetrius Balark (Jr., G, Glendale, Ariz./Raymond S. Kellis HS/Cochise College). Two years ago, the Hounds earned an 83-69 win over CSU-Pueblo at the First United Center, in Canyon, Texas. The Hounds shot .527 from the floor and was paced by Rodney Blackmon's 17 points, while Rafael Love had a double double, with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
 
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology notched its first win in the series against ENMU, in December. Konnor Kulas paced the HardRockers with 33 points and 12 rebounds, while Chris Wyms (Jr., G, Carson, Calif./King Drew Medical Magnet HS/Cerritos HS) led ENMU with 19 points.
 
Last season, when SDMT came to Portales, Rafael Love's 21 points and seven assists paced Eastern to an 86-72 win. The Greyhounds shot .611 from the floor in the game.
 
 
Looking Ahead
 
The Greyhounds will open Lone Star Conference play on Wednesday, January 7, at Cameron University. Eastern will return home for a two-game LSC home stand, against Midwestern State and Texas A&M-Kingsville.