Friday, January 02, 2015
PORTALES, N.M. — In December, the Eastern New Mexico University men's basketball team trailed by double figures to South Dakota School of Mines & Technology throughout the second half, but the Greyhounds (7-6) used home-court advantage to rally from a late nine-point deficit for an 80-74 win over the Hardrockers (3-12), Friday night. Junior guard
John Gilliam (San Bernardino, Calif./Upland HS/Chaffey College) poured in 24 points, which included 20 points in the second half.
The victory improved Eastern to 3-1 against SD Mines & Technology and avenged a 97-71 setback from last month. In the second half, the Greyhounds converted on six of their 11 three-point attempts, after being limited to one of nine in the first half and three-for-23 in the first meeting. The game marked the fourth time this season Eastern rallied from a deficit of at least six points, for a win. ENMU led for 8:54 of tonight's contest. The wild game featured 14 lead changes and nine tie scores.
Th4e opening part of the game featured back and forth action, with the Hounds taking a 16-13 on
Jason Clardy's (Jr., F, Indianapolis, Ind. / Warren Central HS / Midland College) jumper with 12:15 remaining in the first half. The Hardrockers responded with nine straight points to seize a 22-16 lead on four straight points from Philip Schanilec with 10:21 on the clock. A trey from
Chris Wyms (Jr., G, Carson, Calif. / King Drew Medical Magnet HS / Cerritos College) ignited a 9-2 ENMU run over the ensuing 3:15, to stake the Hounds to a 25-24 lead with 6:54 left in the period. South Dakota Mines scored 10 of the next 11 points, to take an eight-point advantage, but a basket from
Demetrius Balark (Jr., G, Glendale, Ariz. / Raymond S. Kellis HS / Cochise College) followed by a buzzer-beater from Wyms left Eastern trailing 34-30 at intermission.
The action continued to go back and forth in the second half, but a 9-2 Hardrocker run erased Eastern's 40-39 lead and have SDMT a 48-40 advantage with 13:11 to play. With 7:27 left in the game, a Konor Kulas layup staked the Hardrockers to their largest lead, 62-53, but Gilliam hit a three-point bucket to spark an 11-0 Greyhound run, with Eastern taking a 64-62 lead on another Gilliam trey with 5:26 left. South Dakota Mines with tie the game three more times, the last coming on a Kulas layup with 1:58 to knot the score at 71-all. Eastern collected nine points at the free throw line over the final 1:18 to seal the win.
Eastern held a 41.3-37 percent edge in shooting percentage, and converted on 51.7 percent from the floor in the second half. Over the final five minutes of play, ENMU converted seven-of nine free throw attempts and did not commit a turnover. Wyms finished with 19 points, while
Michael Randle (Sr., G, Houston, Texas / James Madison HS / Paris JUCO) finished with 13 points. Gilliam also blocked a pair of shots and grabbed four rebounds. Clardy added seven points and seven boards. Kulas paced the Hardrockers with 16 points and 14 rebounds, while Schanilec grabbed 13 caroms.
The Eastern New Mexico University men's basketball team will open Lone Star Conference play on Wednesday at Cameron University. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. MT.