SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Eastern New Mexico men's basketball escaped against a hot-shooting Western Oregon side with an impressive 81-79 win on Friday night.
"Weather the storm," that is what head coach Daven Võ told his team going into tonight's game.
The Greyhounds definitely weathered the storm as WOU made a whopping 16 three's – the most given up by Eastern since a conference matchup against Texas A&M-Commerce in January 2022 when the Lions made 18 total.
Two ENMU student-athletes earned double-doubles in the gritty win.
Jose Murillo posted his sixth double-double of the season with 26 points and 10 rebounds.
Mo Austin tallied his first collegiate double-double with 20 points and a career-best 13 rebounds.
"It took all of us. We faced a lot of adversity," remarked sophomore guard
Mo Austin on what it took to earn a win. "For us to be successful, we need to face these types of games."
Eastern started out the matchup as the heavy favorite jumping out to a 7-0 advantage. However, Western Oregon battled and took a big lead midway through the first half. The difference maker was WOU's ability to find open room on the court and make shots from behind the arc.
At halftime it looked like the Wolves could do nothing wrong. The upset-minded WOU program held a 46-35 lead at the intermission.
"We did not hit the panic button," said Võ when asked about any potential halftime adjustments. "We knew we had to keep the course and keep defending and keep playing."
Eastern New Mexico quickly got the game within a single possession (48-46) just five minutes into the half. However, WOU would continue to find ways to connect on open shots and led 58-49 with 11:18 remaining.
That is when ENMU took charge. The Greyhounds tied up the contest, 61-61, just four minutes later. The game would stay within two possessions the rest of the way.
Western Oregon held a slim, 74-72, edge with just over three minutes left.
Cooper Jackson hit his team-leading 15th three pointer of the season to take the lead (75-74) with 3:06 on the clock. ENMU would hold onto the lead until the Wolves would connect on a three-pointer to tie (79-79) up the game with 36 seconds remaining.
On their final possession of the game, ENMU would find the game winning shot. Austin went for a deep shot from the elbow as Murillo grabbed the offensive rebound to lay it in for the go-ahead bucket with three seconds left on the clock. The Greyhounds denied a final shot opportunity for WOU and earn their ninth-straight win.
Eastern New Mexico continues to shoot the ball well from the floor. They connected on 31-of-63 (49.2%) and sunk five three pointers.
Cooper Jackson was the third Greyhound in double figures as he connected for 12 points in the win. Jackson added three assists and two steals.
Elijah Hollins and
Austin Abrams both scored seven points in the win.
"That was a good team, and we had a lot of people step up," said Austin when asked about the program's effort. "The bench brought energy even when we were losing. Everyone stayed together."
Tonight's win also marked
Jose Murillo's 1000th career point as a Greyhound. He becomes just the 21st player to accomplish the feat at ENMU. The other fun fact? He did so without scoring a single three-point basket.
Â
"So cool to accomplish," said Murillo in reaction to the 1000 points. "I did not think that I would score 1000 points in college. It is such an honor to do so as a Greyhound."
Eastern New Mexico's win streak now matches the nine-game winning streak in 2002-03. ENMU will look to extend the streak to double digits as they face Westminster (UT) tomorrow afternoon in Salt Lake City.