PORTALES, NM - Eastern New Mexico men's basketball are heading into the final week of home games and regular season play as the Lone Star Conference Championship is an arms length away. The Hounds will welcome Cameron and Midwestern State to the arena this week. 

LAST WEEK
Eastern New Mexico pushed the defensive dial against Texas A&M-Commerce pushing the lions to 25 turnovers and 13 offensive rebounds. The Hounds took a seven point lead heading into the half but were unable to compete with the Lions 50 second-half points falling 80-75. The Greyhounds continued on the road traveling to UT Tyler where they were faced with another tough contest. The Hounds were slow putting points up on the board reaching double-digits after the ten minute mark in the first half. Coming back with more energy in the second half, the Greyhounds saw their first lead of the game and stayed close to the Patriots until the final minutes falling by seven. The Hounds kept UT Tyler to a 18.8 three point percentage only allowing the Patriots to connect on 3-for-16 shots beyond the arc; the second lowest three-point shooting percentage by a team when facing the Greyhound defense.

Devin Pullum found the sweet spot in the left corner against the Lions connecting on five three-pointers adding to a total of 20 points for the contest. Pullum continued to find ground beyond the arc as he shot four three's against the Patriots, and went 6-for-6 from the charity strip to match his season high 26 points set earlier this season. Yosnier Cobas scored a career high 13 points against the Lions after shooting 83.3 percent from the free throw line. Cobas added six rebounds, two blocked shots and two steals for the night. Cobas is currently leading the Greyhound team in rebounds (118) and blocked shots (21). 


SCOUTING THE COMPETITION

Cameron 
The Aggies are tied for ninth in the Lone Star Conference with Oklahoma Christian and are on their way to a post-tournament game. Currently, on a three game winning streak, the Aggies have won by eight points or less in the last three contests. Most recently, taking an eight point win over UAFS, four Cameron players hit double digits as the squad recorded a 55.8 field goal percentage. The Aggies are a heavy underclassman team with four freshman and five sophomores. Sophomores duo Kendall Scott and Brock Schreiner led Cameron averaging just over 10 points a game.

Sophomore Kendall Scott is averaging 10.9 points a game hitting double digits in 16 games this season with a recent career high 30 points vs Texas A&M-Commerce. The Aggies are ranked third in the LSC for offensive rebounds led by Scott with 57 offensive, 164 total. Brock Schreiner, 6'0 guard, hit a season high 24 points in the Aggies two point win over UAFS on January 23rd. Schreiner has posted 20 or more points in five contests and is leading the Aggies with 64 assists for the 2019-20 campaign.

Midwestern State
MSU has been up and down in Lone Star Conference play this season. The Mustangs saw two overtime losses earlier in the year and are currently coming off a three game winning streak after wins over UT Tyler, UAFS and Oklahoma Christian. The Mustangs are tied with ENMU for 13th place in the Lone Star Conference and are ranked fourth in the conference for a free throw percentage of 74.0.

Justin Leslie is in his first year as head coach for Midwestern State. Leslie formerly coached at Azusa Pacific in California. During his 12 years he led the team to an average of 22 wins per season including two Pacific West Conference titles and an NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearance. Senior guard, D'Monta Harris, is averaging 16.3 points per game after recording 20 or more in eight contests and 30 or more in two. Harris also leads the Mustangs with a 6.1 rebounding average. Darius Thompson, a senior from Memphis, is averaging the most playing time on the court for the Mustangs. The 6'3 guard has scored double-digits in all but three games this season with a high 23 points against St. Mary's. Thompson posted two double-doubles early in the season and is shooting 80.0 percent from the free throw line.

QUICK HITS

SAYING GOODBYE TO THE SENIORS
 6'7 forward, Deng Kuany, transferred to Eastern New Mexico after finishing two years at Miles Community College. Kuany average 3.5 points and 2.7 rebounds per game as a junior Greyhound. For his senior campaign, Kuany has averaged 6.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per contest. Kuany is currently leading the Hounds  with 39 offensive rebounds this season, and is second in line with the highest  total of rebounds at 117. Kuany posted 22 points and seven rebounds at Western New Mexico after shooting 66.7 percent from both the field and the three point line. 

Isaiah Murphy, a 6'5 guard, has been with the Greyhounds since his junior year after finishing two years at Pima Community College. Murphy scored double-digits in nine games during his junior campaign averaging 7.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Murphy scored a career high 20 points and six rebounds, at Texas A&M-International. Murphy connected on all four three point attempts at Lubbock Christian ending the contest with 16 points, his seventh game hitting double-digits this season.  Murphy is currently second on the team with 12 blocked shots and an average of 22.8 minutes played per game. 

6'5 forward/guard, Darius Sawyer, transferred to Eastern New Mexico after spending his sophomore year at ASA Miami. Sawyer currently leads the Hounds with a 56.0% shooting percentage from the field and is averaging 4.6 points, 2.1 rebounds per game this season. Sawyer assisted the Hounds in a win over DBU recording a season high eight rebounds and 14 points. 

LONE STAR POST SEASON TOURNAMENT 
The Lone Star Conference will take the top 12 teams to the post season tournament allowing the top four a bye week. The conference is led by West Texas A&M who have lost one game this season. 
Following the Buffs is St. Edwards with three conference losses. There is a three-way tie for third between Angelo State, Lubbock Christian and Texas A&M-Kingsville. Eastern New Mexico is currently tied at 13th with Midwestern State and UAFS. 

STOPPING OPPONENTS BEYOND THE ARC
Eastern New Mexico has held six opponents to a .240 three point percentage or lower moving them up to the number two slot in the Lone Star Conference for defense three-point percentage. When matched up against the Greyhounds, opponents are averaging a 31.1 percent from beyond the arc. Earlier in the season, the Hounds defense forced Oklahoma Christian to a three-point percentage of 13.6, connecting on 3-for-22 shots beyond the arc. Last weekend the Greyhounds recorded the second lowest three-point percentage from an opponent as the Hounds forced UT Tyler to finish the contest with an 18.8% from the arc connecting on 3-for-16 shots.


The Greyhounds will top off against Cameron on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 7:30 p.m. celebrating Faculty and Staff appreciation night. Each member of the team has invited an individual from Eastern New Mexico University and will be announced after the conclusion of the women's game. The game is sponsored by Holiday Inn and Express. The Hounds will return on Saturday, Feb. 29 at 4:00 p.m. for senior night against Midwestern State, sponsored by First Financial Credit Union.