Saturday, November 21, 2015

GUNNISON, COLO. — The Eastern New Mexico University men's basketball team recorded their first win of the season Saturday, overcoming Colorado Mesa University 86-82 in the final minutes of their contest at the Comfort Inn Classic.

The Greyhounds (1-3) trailed by as much as eight in the first half, and despite tying the score twice, and the Mavericks (2-2) pushed their lead to seven, going into the locker room at half up 47-40.  ENMU took their first lead of the game off a Javandon Staves three pointer just six minutes into the second half, taking a 60-57 lead.

The Hounds never looked back though, refusing to relinquish their lead.  While Colorado Mesa did manage to tie the score at 79-79 with two minutes left, a steal followed by a fast break dunk by Chaunce Hill started an ENMU surge that would see the Greyhounds record their first win of the year.

For the second straight contest John Gilliam led the team on offense with 23 points, going 7-16 from the field and 4-6 from beyond the arc.  The senior guard also recorded eight rebounds.

Also for the second straight game, three other Greyhounds scored in double digits, with Stephon Edwards, Javaan Mumtaz and Staves scoring 16, 13 and 13 points apiece.  Edwards also recorded eight boards while Lawrence Domingo had a team high 10 rebounds.

ENMU shot 45 percent from the floor whole going a season-high 43 percent from the three-point line.  Eastern also went 15-23 from the free-throw line.  Edwards led the team, going 6-10 from the charity stripe.

Next up for the Hounds is Emporia State.  Eastern will travel to Canyon, Texas, for the Pak-A-Sak West Texas Thanksgiving Classic Nov. 27-28.  Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (MT).