The Eastern New Mexico University men's basketball team welcomes Texas A&M-Commerce to the friendly confines of Greyhound Arena on Thursday, Dec. 8. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. with the women's game prior to the men's. The 'Hounds look to bounce back from a pair of tight setbacks to UTPB and West Texas A&M. Eastern is currently 4-5 on the season and 0-2 in LSC play.
 
Live stats and streaming video is available online at GoEasternAthletics.com.
 
Cardiac Kids
Eastern has already played a pair of overtime games this season, including a double-overtime thriller against Wayne State last Saturday at the PAK-A-SAK Thanksgiving Tournament in Canyon. The Greyhounds have played six games decided by six points or fewer, going 3-2 in those contests.
 
Throwing A Block Party
Eastern ranks in the top-50 in the country in blocks-per-game, stuffing 4.4 shots, good for the 38th-most in the nation. Additionally, Eastern ranks No. 10 nationally with 35 blocks, the second most in the conference. Arcaim Lallemand and Chaunce Hill lead the way with six, apiece. Hill blocked three attempts against Saint Mary's while Lallemand matched the 'Hounds' season-high of three against UTPB.
 
Swiper No Swiping
The Green and Silver currently sit at 19th and 51st in the nation in steals and steals/game, respectively. Of Eastern's 68 steals, CoRnell Neal (13) and Chris Wyms (11) lead the Greyhounds while Neal ranks 81st of all NCAA DII players in swipes. Big man Andre Hughes, guard Marquise Harris and Joe Clarke have all picked at least eight pockets on the year. Additionally, the 21.00 turnovers forced/game put the 'Hounds fourth in NCAA DII.
 
Pulling Them Down
Eastern New Mexico is among the country's best at rebounding with 346 so far in 2016. More importantly, Eastern has thrived on second-chance points, going 3-1 when having more points and offensive boards. The squad ranks third nationally with 16.88/game. Chris Lewis leads the way with 30 offensive boards and is ninth nationally with 4.29/game. Against Wayne State, the Philadelphia, Pa., native pulled down 15 rebounds and eight offensive boards. Overall, Lewis has 65 rebounds and Andre Hughes has 60 to lead the team. Each ranks in the top 65 in the country.
 
Neal Doing It All
Senior CoRnell Neal has been excelling on both ends of the court so far this season, contributing in just about every way possible. The Midwest City, Okla., native is averaging 15.7 points/game, shooting at a .395 clip from the field and .393 from beyond the arc. The reining Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week is dishing out 4.5 assists, pulling down 2.8 boards and stealing the ball 2.2 times/game this season. With 4.5 assists/game, Neal ranks third in the Lone Star Conference. He hit a game winning three against Southern Nazarene and scored a season-high 29 points against Wayne State.
 
Double Bubble
With Chaunce Hill being the only returning player to have recorded a double-double in the Green and Silver, three other players have accomplished the feat this season. Shawn Shelton (11 pts/11 reb) was the first of the season, followed by Chris Lewis (14 pts/10 reb) and Andre Hughes (11 pts/11 reb).
 
Getting To The Stripe
The Greyhounds have done an outstanding job of getting to the free throw line. Overall Eastern ranks 12th nationally and third in the LSC with 203 trips to the charity stripe. The Green and Silver have converted on 121 attempts, good for the 54th-most in the nation. Against Wayne State, ENMU went to the line 44 times over the final three periods and shot at a 73 percent clip from the line. CoRnell Neal made a season-high 11 free throws in the win.
 
'Quise The King
Junior Marquise Harris leads the team with 17.0 points/game and his 94 field goal attempts rank among the most in the conference. The Watts, Calif., native has come up with a number of big shots on the season for the Greyhounds, including a dagger of a three pointer in the season opener and 29 points in the game against Fort Lewis, going 11-of-17 from the field and 4-of-8 from beyond the arc.
 
Say It Ain't So Joe
Joe Clarke posted a string of impressive performances in the last several games. The Dean College transfer has averaged 14.33 points over the last three contests. In 29 minutes against UTPB, Clarke accounted for 18 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals in the setback. Overall, the junior is second on the team with 9.8 PPG and is among the team's best from the free throw line, converting at a 76% clip.
 
Up Next
The Greyhounds host Tarleton State on Saturday at Greyhound Arena on Saturday following commencement. Tipoff against the Texans is slated for 7 p.m.