Sunday, December 20, 2015

TAMPA, FLA. — After a slow start the Eastern New Mexico University men's basketball team finally started clicking, but it was too little too late as the University of Tampa would hold on to win 80-69 Sunday on the final day of the Tampa Classic.

The Greyhounds (3-8) found themselves down 14-7 in the opening minutes, a deficit that would continue to grow as high as 20 points in the first half.  With several defensive stops and some timely shots, ENMU would cut the Spartan (4-7) lead to only 13 in the closing minutes and head into the locker room down 45-32.

The Hounds would regroup at half and come out in the second intent on taking the lead.  While they would make some headway and bring the game to within single digits, Tampa would not relent and eventually pushed their lead back up to double figures.

Ladarius Stewart recorded his third straight double-double, leading the Hounds with 10 rebounds and scoring 13 points as well. Lawrence Domingo went 7-11 from the field, scoring a team-high 16 points. 

Stephon Edwards and Javaan Mumtaz each chipped in with 13 and 11 points, respectively.  Edwards also grabbed nine rebounds.  Brady Patterson set a new career-high in assists, finding the open man seven times on the afternoon.

Eastern won the battle on the glass, grabbing 37 rebounds compared to Tampa's 31.  A major difference in the matchup was free throws, with the Greyhounds only getting to the line 15 times while the home team Spartans reached the charity stripe 24 times, hitting 18 on the freebies.

ENMU will now return home with their Florida trip coming to an end.  After a break for the Holidays the Hounds will be back in action for their first home game of the season, Dec. 31, with tipoff slated for 2 p.m. (MT).