Saturday, December 19, 2015
ST, PETERSBURG, FLA. — Ladarius Stewart followed up his double-double performance in Eastern New Mexico University men's basketball team's previous game with another great outing, but it wasn't enough to overcome Eckerd College Saturday, falling to the Tritons 106-86 in yet another high scoring affair.
Stewart led the Hounds (3-7) with 17 points and 11 rebounds, going 8-17 from the field. Once again Eastern had over five players in double digits, with Stephon Edwards and Javandon Staves recording 12 and 11 points respectively, while Brady Patterson, Javaan Mumtaz and Lawrence Domingo all scored 10 each.
This was the second straight game where at least three of the Eastern starters were in double figures scoring. Patterson also recorded a season-high six assists in the game.
In the team's second straight high scoring matchup, the Hounds went 30-66 from the floor and 7-25 from the three point line. Eckerd (11-1) was slightly more efficient, hitting almost 60 percent of their shots on the night.
While the Greyhounds kept the game close in the opening minutes, Eckerd quickly showed why they are one of the better teams in the region, taking a five point lead with 13 minutes left in the first half and never looking back. Despite Eastern cutting what was at one point a 16 point lead down to only nine, the Tritons would push their lead back up to 15 heading into the locker room.
The second half saw the greyhounds fight back, but never quite being able to make any serious headway into the Triton lead. While ENMU took better care of the ball than their previous game, only committing 11 turnovers, the Hounds still struggled form the line, hitting only 62 percent of their free throws going 20-32.
Saturday's game was the first of two for the Greyhounds in the Tampa Classic. Sunday ENMU will take on Tampa College, with the tip off scheduled for 2 p.m. (MT). The game will end the three-game Florida road trip for Eastern before they return home for their home opener against Wayland Baptist, Dec. 31.