February 16, 1998
For Immediate Release
Contact: Judy Willson, SID
505.562.4309 or 356-4755

Thur., February 19
*Abilene Christian University at Eastern New Mexico 7:30 pm (MT)
Greyhound Arena, Portales, New Mexico

Sat., February 21 - Senior Night
*Angelo State University at Eastern New Mexico 7:30 pm (MT)
Greyhound Arena, Portales, New Mexico

*=LSC-South Division Game

Senior Night...will be Saturday night against Angelo State University. It will be the final home appearance of Greyhound seniors Angel Gutierrez of Fabens, Texas and Bart McIntire of Liberal, Kansas. Gutierrez is the Hounds' top rebounder and blocker with 5.9 rebounds per game and 19 blocked shots for the season. McIntire started 8 games this season and has been the primary backup for Gutierrez.

The Greyhounds (7-17, 2-10 LSC-South)...lost two tough games this week. Eastern New Mexico lost Thursday night to Tarleton State University, 78-55. Sophomore Matt Vail (Grants) was the leading scorer for the Hounds with 20 points. Senior Angel Gutierrez (Fabens, Texas) and junior Aaron Buckmister (Mesa, Ariz.) were the top rebounders with 5 each.

Saturday, ENMU outscored Midwestern State in the second half by one point but needed five more to make up their halftime deficit. MSU won 64-60. Vail and Buckmister were the leading scorers for the Hounds with 16 points each. Junior Chris Wilkerson (San Jose, Calif.) was the top rebounder with 7.

Vail remains the Hounds leading scorer with 19.2 points per game. He is also the top three-point shooter on the team with 66 and top free throw shooter at 78.3%. Junior Daryl Bickham (Alamogordo) is the top assist man with 73, followed by Vail with 69.

This Week....the Hounds wrap up the regular season portion of the 1997-98 season. ENMU is sitting in a tie for seventh in the Lone Star Conference-South Division with Angelo State and will not advance to the LSC Post-season Tournament next week.

Abilene Christian comes into Greyhound Arena on Thursday with 19-5 overall and 7-5 LSC-South Division record. They are in fourth place in the LSC-South and should advance to the LSC tournament next week. The Wildcats are led by Jared Mosely with 18.9 points per game. He is also the leading rebounder with 6.3 per game. Don't put ACU on the free throw line - three Wildcats are in the top 10 in the LSC from the charity stripe - Broderick Bobb (79.7%), Joseph Edwards (79.1%) and Mosely (77.3%).

Angelo State comes into this week's games with an 8-16 overall and 2-10 LSC-South record. Head coach Ed Messbarger retires after Saturday's game after 41 years of coaching. He has spent the last 20 at ASU and is the 18^th winningest active coach in NCAA Division II. The Rams are led by Delwin Smith with 12.4 points per game. Justin Cuculich is the top rebounder with 8.8 per game.

Hounds in LSC Stats(2/16)...Team: scoring offense (15^th); scoring defense (6^th); scoring margin (14^th); free throw % (12^th); field goal % (16^th); field goal % defense (10^th); 3-point field goal % (12^th); 3-point field goal % defense (11^th); rebounding offense (12^th); rebounding defense (6^th); rebounding margin (7^th); blocked shots (11^th); assists (16^th); steals (15^th); turnover margin (11^th); assist/ turnover ratio (16^th); offensive rebounds (8^th); defensive rebounds (12^th).

Individual: scoring - Matt Vail (7^th); free throw % - Matt Vail (7^th); 3-point made - Matt Vail (5^th); blocked shots - Angel Gutierrez (12^th).

On the Airwaves...107.5 KSMX-FM will be broadcasting all of the Greyhound basketball games. Don Elder will handle the play-by-play for all ENMU home games.

Weekly Radio Show...Don Elder will also be hosting the ENMU Coaches Show on 107.5 KSMX-FM every Wednesday night at 7:00 pm from Juanito's Restaurant on Avenue C in Portales. Different ENMU coaches will join Elder to give updates on the progress of their teams throughout the winter and spring.

SportsLook...will broadcast on KENW-TV Channel 3 on Thursday nights. The show, hosted by Dallan Sanders, is an ENMU student-run production.

Look Out for the Green Monster...ENMU students with a current I.D. can win a free chance to sit courtside on a big green couch at all remaining Zia and Greyhound basketball games. Domino's Pizza and Pepsi will be provided for those enjoying the view from the Green Monster.

Ticket Prices...general admission tickets for Greyhound and Zia basketball games are $4.00 for Adults (out of high school) and $3.00 for Kids kindergarten thru 12^th grade. Under kindergarten age are free.