PORTALES, N.M. – Aided by six players scoring in double-figures, the Eastern New Mexico University men's basketball team upset 20^th-ranked West Texas A&M, 96-83, on Thursday evening in front of a raucous 1,286 fans at Greyhound Arena. The win propels the Greyhounds to 8-12 on the season and 2-8 in Lone Star Conference action.
 
The victory was ENMU's first over rival WT since March 1, 2014 when the 'Hounds defeated the Buffaloes, 94-63 in Portales.
 
"I hope that the students and supporters that came tonight saw that they can affect the outcome of the game. We heard them the whole night. It was a sixth-man. I think they got a good show. Is there better entertainment in this town than the women's basketball team who's leading the conference and the men's basketball team who's emerging as a conference contender? You see with a win like this tonight how the Portales blue-collar, worker spirit can connect everybody from the people that came to the game to the players to the coaching staff. We're going to be gritty and tough. I just appreciate that the whole community got to be a part of that.""
 
Freshman guard Byrale Carter turned in his best performance in the Green and Silver with a career-high 12 points, but more impressively, the Killeen, Texas, native held the Lone Star Conference Preseason Player of the Year, David Chavlovich to just 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting. Additionally, Carter limited WT's Jordan Evans to just two points after Evans averaged almost 14 PPG on the season.
 
"The most impressive part about Byrale's performance tonight, he never doubted that he belonged on the court with those players. You're talking about the LSC Preseason Player of the Year for the last two years and some guards who are averaging in the high teens. For Byrale to step into those moments is a huge step for our future."
 
Senior guard Chris Wyms cashed in on 11 points and led all players with five assists while also pulling down five rebounds. The Carson, Calif., native went a perfect 8-of-8 from the charity stripe and knocked down a three pointer.
 
"Chris Wyms has handled going between starting and not starting so well. He really led us. We had six guys in double figures. That's what I thought our team would be all season in terms of the quality and the power in our scoring."
 
Junior forward Andre Hughes had 15 points, going 7-of-11 from the field and pulled down three boards while junior guard Shawn Shelton picked up nine points and grabbed three rebounds. Junior guard Lamarquis Thompson led the 'Hounds with 18 points, including going 7-of-9 from the field. The Houston, Texas, native grabbed a team-leading six rebounds and nailed a dagger of a three pointer with just over eight minutes to play to increase Eastern's lead to 10.
 
"For Andre to have the night that he did, he really showed his ability to score the basketball in spurts at times. Shawn Shelton showed his ability as a slasher tonight to score above people in a plane where no one else can get to. He made some baskets tonight that were incredible. To see Lamarquis have a breakout game like he did tonight is terrific."
 
Junior forward Chris Lewis tallied 11 points and six rebounds with a pair of assists while sophomore Arcaim Lallemand pulled down six rebounds and hit a pair of free throws late in the action to help secure the win.
 
"At halftime, we were tied in the rebound battle, 11-11, and I told the guys if we won the rebound battle by 10, we'll win the game. Sure enough, we won by 13 and won the game. I'm proud of them for buying in and putting the game out of reach."
 
Eastern returns to the court on Saturday, Jan. 29, to take on UTPB at Greyhound Arena. Tipoff against the Texans is slated for 4 p.m. For the latest news, follow @ENMUAthletics and @ENMU_Hoops on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and visit goeasternathletics.com.