SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Freshman Jose Murillo gave Eastern New Mexico a one-point lead with 5:49 remaining to cap a 6-0 run in Saturday's conference game against St. Mary's, but the Rattlers came out on top with a 76-66 win to hold off the Greyhounds second half rally.

For the second game in three days, Grehlon Easter began the game with a hot hand as he scored ten of the first 13 points for the Hounds. The Little Rock, Ark. native finished the afternoon with 14 points, four assists, and four rebounds to help ENMU stay close with a feisty StMU squad.

The Rattlers broke a back-and-forth battle with a pair of triples from Tyler Caron. The junior forward helped his team take a 28-21 advantage with six minutes remaining in the opening frame.

The disadvantage did not bother ENMU as the Hounds went on a 9-0 run capped by a bucket from Jahcoree Ealy. Before the half ended, Errol White hit a deep two-pointer to give his team the 35-33 lead at intermission.

Defensively, St. Mary's began the second half in the zone and it proved to be a tough challenge over the opening five minutes as the Rattlers took a 44-37 lead courtesy of an 11-0 run.

The heavily favored opening minutes did not prove to be the final straw as ENMU tightened up on defense, forced clutch turnovers, and had some help from Greg Johnson. The junior Connors State transfer hit a pair of threes in straight possessions to cut StMU's advantage to three points.

At the following media timeout, Brent Owen checked in Murillo into the game and the Greyhounds battled with every change of possession to take a lead. The freshman forward by way of Highland High School went on to score ten of twelve points during the lead changing moment.

The one-point benefit to the Hounds did not last long as the Rattlers picked up the pace of the game and drove full throttle until the final buzzer as they ended the matchup with an 18-7 rally.

ENMU drops to 5-3 and 0-2 in Lone Star Conference play. The team will not be in action over the next twelve days as finals week begins Monday. They will get back to Greyhound Arena December 15th for a battle with UT Tyler. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m.