PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico earned a resume building win over preseason No. 3 St. Edward's, 103-70, Thursday night.

The Hilltoppers came into Portales for just the second time in program history riding a six-game winning streak over the Greyhounds. This time around, the game found favor with Eastern.

"I'm really proud of them. They came out on fire," said head coach Brent Owen after the win. "Everyone who checked into the game came in with the right mindset. They really played together and beat a heck of a team."

All ten players who played tonight for ENMU scored a minimum of four points. Six Greyhounds hit double digit scoring with Jahcoree Ealy paving the way for the team with 16 points.

Early chances in the paint for the senior wing helped spread the floor in various ways on a night that saw the Hounds control the game offensively. However, the game was not always a one-sided affair.

SEU led by as many as four points in the first half (21-17,11:32), but a 25-9 advantage over the final eight minutes of the opening half carried ENMU to a 51-37 lead going into intermission.

"We got a string of stops," said Owen when asked about the back-and-forth start to the game. "I thought our rebounding was where this game was going to be. I thought we were more physical."

The Hounds managed to outrebound the Hilltoppers, 49-34. Three players (Conrad Luczynski, Mario Whitley, and Jose Murillo) finished with a team-best seven rebounds.

One key part of the game is that no player saw more than 30 minutes of action on the court. All ten student-athletes played between 10 and 29 minutes.

Rio Rancho, N.M. native Junior Hodnett is hitting a major stride early in the season at Greyhound Arena. In home games, he is 13-16 (81.25%) from three-point range.

"I think my confidence is up at home since we're here every day," said Hodnett when asked about his recent performances at home. "I am most proud of the way we shared the basketball. Look around the  board, we didn't have anyone go off for 30. Everyone was high single digits or low double digits."

Tonight, he hit five three-pointers, which is just one shy from his season-best mark of six versus New Mexico Highlands. Hodnett did not waste possessions as he collected six assists without committing a single turnover.

In fact, Eastern New Mexico only had nine total turnovers.

For players like Hodnett, this game meant a little more. The win marks the first in conference play. The Lone Star Conference plays a 22 game schedule featuring matchups with every team in the league. Last year, these two teams met in Austin and the Hilltoppers earned a decisive victory. This year, ENMU traded the favor with a decisive victory of their own.

"They are really good and really well coached," said Hodnett on the St. Edward's program.

One touch matchup ENMU needed to overcome was All-American Sean Elkinton. The sophomore leads the conference with four double doubles and was looking for his fifth in the opening month of play. Fortunately for those on Eastern's side, the big man did not earn his fifth.

All three bigs for Eastern New Mexico had key moments to limit one of the top players among NCAA DII programs. Jose Murillo went for ten points and three blocks, Conrad Luczynski totaled 12 points and seven rebounds, and Jaxon Koroll scored four points and garnered five rebounds.

"It's a whole team collectively. We have to learn eachother inside and out," said Luczynski when asked about the team effort it took to come out with a win over the Hilltoppers. "It feels great. I think I found my flow and got my rhythm together."

The 103 points marks just the third time in school history that ENMU has had a team score 102+ points in at least two games in a single season. In total, 103 points is the ninth most in the teams 90-year history.

The Hounds also earned their most assists (27) since dishing out the same number against Angelo State in February 2006.

ENMU won't have to wait long for its next game as they welcome St. Mary's to Greyhound Arena Saturday afternoon. The Rattlers will be coming to Portales after a double digit win over Western New Mexico tonight.