ALBUQUERQUE, NM – The Eastern New Mexico men's basketball team wrapped up play at the RMAC/LSC Challenge on Sunday afternoon at The Pit. The Greyhounds were handed a 97-87 loss by New Mexico Highlands University.
The contest saw five ties early on before the Cowboys gained the advantage and held the lead through the remainder of the first half.
NMHU's biggest lead of the half came with 20 seconds left in the frame when Ja'Vary Christmas hit a three-pointer to make the score 45-33.
Kentrell Pullian responded with a three of his own at the buzzer to cut the deficit to 45-36 at the end of the first frame.
The ENMU offense came out in the second half looking to take the advantage from the Cowboys. In the first five minutes of play, the Hounds drained four shots from beyond the arc, three of which came from
Jose Serrano.
Eastern came within three points of the lead with 16:08 remaining but that's as close as the Hounds would get as New Mexico Highlands held on the rest of the way to secure the 97-87 win.
NOTABLE STATS
- Serrano paced the ENMU offense with 24 points (9-12 FG, 5-7 3PT, 1-2 FT). Adam Hess was close behind with 20 points, while Pullian rounded out the double digit scoring with 15 points.
- Overall, the Hounds finished shooting 45.6 percent (31-68) on field goals, 56.0 percent (14-25) from three-point range, and 78.6 percent (11-14) at the line.
- Defensively, James Jordan pulled down a team-high seven boards. Serrano, JaQuan Morris, and Yosnier Cobas were close behind with five rebounds each.
- Eastern held the overall advantage on the boards, 41-33.
- Jordan finished the game with eight assists.
- Serrano and Pullian both recorded two blocks.
- For the Cowboys, Desmond Carpenter led all scorers with 33 points along with eight steals and seven assists.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- ENMU drops to 2-0 overall on the season, while New Mexico Highlands improves to 1-1.
- The Hounds are back in action for their home opener against Northern New Mexico College on Friday, November 19 at 6 p.m. in Greyhound Arena.