SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Eastern New Mexico men's basketball team survived a furious comeback attempt from their rivals Western New Mexico to hang on for an 80-78 victory in the team's first game of the 2019 calendar year.

The Hounds move to 3-0 in Lone Star Conference play for the first time since 2006 and remain in a three-way tie atop the conference standings with West Texas A&M and Texas A&M-Commerce. Eastern New Mexico made 14-of-25 (56 percent) shots from the field in the second half and had help when Jon-Reese Wooden of Western missed the second of three free throw attempts after being fouled with just over one second remaining on the clock with the Mustangs trailing 80-77.

Wooden was unable to convert all three free throw attempts needed to force overtime and the Hounds were able to escape their rival's home gym with their first victory of 2019 and third straight conference win. Senior Chukuka Emili committed the costly foul as Wooden dribbled just shy of the half court line, but was otherwise sensational for head coach Tres Segler, recording his third double-double of the season with 19 points and 12 rebounds.

Fellow senior Maurice Coleman also contributed impactful plays down the stretch with six points in the final two minutes of the game, finishing with 14 points. Despite the strong resistance down the stretch from Western, the Hounds never allowed the Mustangs to tie the score up in the second half thanks to a solid all-around effort from the field.

Eastern connected on just 1-of-7 attempts from behind the three-point line in the first half, but turned things around in the second half, going 6-of-10 as a team and lead for the entirety of the 20 minutes of the second half. Both teams struggled to get it moving on the offensive end in the first half, but each shot the ball at an efficient rate in the second with the Mustangs knocking down 16-of-34 attempts (47.1) from the field.

Guards Devin Pullum and Isaiah Murphy both also had quality offensive outings for the Hounds, posting 11 and 13 points respectively.

Eastern New Mexico will look to continue their hot shooting from tonight's second half into Saturday afternoon's contest against UT-Permian Basin at 3 p.m. in Odessa, Texas.