PORALES, N.M. –The Eastern New Mexico University men's basketball was unable to complete the comeback bid in an 83-73 loss to Texas A&M-Commerce in the 'Hounds' home opener in front of 529 fans at Greyhound Arena on Thursday. After the setback, Eastern moves to 4-6 on the season and 0-3 in Lone Star Conference play.
 
"Commerce's guard crew did a really nice job," ENMU Head Coach Tres Segler said. "Coach Walker has done a really good job of having them go up-tempo. He's doing a lot of good things offensively. I think we were prepared for what they did, but we didn't do a good job of coming up with the basketball once we got stops. They made a few more 50-50 plays in the end."
 
Joe Clarke and CoRnell Neal led the Greyhounds with 15 points, apiece, and combined for 13-of-27 from the court. Neal turned in another strong all-around performance with four rebounds and three assists as well. Junior guard Marquise Harris added 13 points and seven rebounds to lead Eastern in the paint.
 
Eastern was unable to overcome a slow shooting first half, going just 10-of-32 from the field and 3-for-13 from behind the three-point line. Clarke led Eastern in the first half with seven points on three of eight shooting and his four rebounds were a half-high for ENMU.
 
"At the beginning of the game, no one was really able to find a rhythm," Segler said. "I think that was the point where if we had gotten out to a lead, we could've really taken control of the game. Because we didn't have to take advantage then, we had to play from behind after that."
 
Out of the break, Eastern with an 11-4 run to pull within nine and closed to within eight with just under 13 minutes to play. Neal added 11 second-half points on 4-of-7 shooting as the 'Hounds continually battled back despite trailing by 18 to start the second half.
 
"I was really proud of the kids," the first year ENMU Head Coach added. "We cut it to eight at one point late and that was a testament to a couple stops and some big rebounds by Chris Lewis and Andre Hughes. We just have to find a way to get it done."
 
"We're playing a really good Tarleton team on Saturday, one that has to make a long road trip from Western New Mexico. We just have to find a way to group it together and find a victory."
 
"We can't put ourselves in a position to have to make hero-type plays to win, but to our guys' credit, they've done some pretty heroic things to come back from pretty big margins. On one hand, we can't put ourselves in those positions, but on the other hand, I'm so proud of my guys for fighting together and making it a fight no matter what. The great teams find a way to balance those two things and we have to find that balance."
 
The Greyhounds return to the friendly confines of Greyhound Arena on Saturday, Dec. 10, against Tarleton State. Tipoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. (MT). For the latest news, follow @ENMUAthletics and @ENMU_Hoops on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and visit goeasternathletics.com.