Saturday, January 17, 2015
                                                                                                                
PORTALES, N.M. — Junior guards John Gilliam (San Bernardino, Calif./Upland HS/Chaffey College) and Demetrius Balark (Glendale, Ariz./Raymond S. Kellis HS/Cochise College) combined to score 37 points, dish out five assists and pull down nine rebounds, but the Eastern New Mexico University men's basketball team (7-12; LSC 0-6) dropped an 89-64 decision to visiting Tarleton State (16-2; LSC 4-3) in Lone Star Conference action, Saturday at Greyhound Arena. Balark has reached double figures in each of the last three games.
 
In the opening 1:18, the Texans scored seven of the first nine points, taking a 7-2 lead on back-to-back buckets from TaShawn Mabry. Balark answered with a layup, followed by a game-tying trey from Chris Wyms (Jr., G, Carson, Calif. / King Drew Medical Magnet HS / Cerritos College). Tarleton State took the lead for good, less than a minute later and traded baskets with ENMU for the next few minutes. The Hound closed to within one point, 12-11 on a short jumper from Gilliam, with 14:21 left in the half, but the Texans scored the next 13 points to seize a 14-point edge with 11:13 left in the half. A 6-0 run late in the first half pulled the Hounds within seven, at 39-26, on a Balark free throw. Eastern could come no closer as Tarleton State pulled away for the win.
 
The Texans held a 66.7-41.4 percent advantage in shooting percentage. Each team registered 20 points off turnovers, with Tarleton State committing 16 miscues, while the Hounds had 14 turnovers. Gilliam had 20 points, while Balark contributed 17 points. Wyms chipped in eight points. Mabry paced Tarleton State with 31 points and hit 13 of his 19 field goal attempts.
 
The Eastern New Mexico University men's basketball team will return to action next Saturday, to host West Texas A&M. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. MT.