Sports Release
February 20, 1999

GREYHOUNDS LOSE TO TARLETON STATE, 81-71
PORTALES, NM — Tarleton State University shot 75.9% in the first half (22 of 29) to build a 23-point lead, then held off Eastern New Mexico University for an 81-71 Lone Star Conference victory at Greyhound Arena, Feb. 20. TSU improved to 15-11, including 8-6 in the LSC South Division. Eastern concluded the season at 9-17, 2-12 in the LSC South.

Tarleton State earned a berth in the LSC Men’s Basketball Tournament as the #3 seed from the South Division, and will play at Southeastern Oklahoma (North #2 seed) in the quarterfinals on Tues., Feb. 23. The Texans finished the regular season trailing West Texas A&M (13-1) and Midwestern State (11-3) in the South Division standings.

TSU held a tie-breaker edge over Texas A&M-Commerce (8-6) for the #3 seed. TAMU-C earned the final South Division berth.

Against ENMU, the Texans were nearly unstoppable in the first half. TSU’s excellent shooting over the first 20 minutes included 7 of 9 on three-point shots. The Texans finished the game with 10 three-pointers on 17 attempts. TSU shot 66.0% on field goals for the game (52.4% second half), but made just 5 of 15 free throws and committed 16 turnovers to 13 for ENMU.

The Greyhounds rallied in the second half, outscoring the Texans, 40-27. Eastern pulled within 11 points, 62-51, on a layup by senior forward Deron Rippey (Brooklyn, NY/East Carolina) with 12.36 left. The Greyhounds cut the deficit to nine points, 75-66, with 3:57 remaining, and trailed by just 8 points, 79-71, at the 1:18 mark on a 3-pointer by junior guard Brandon Ridenour (Lovington, NM/New Mexico J.C.).

Rippey led all scorers with 28 points for ENMU. He finished the year with 19 or more points in 15 consecutive games, including every LSC South Division contest. He scored at least 22 points in ENMU’s final nine games of the year. Ridenour added 11 points for the Greyhounds.

Senior center Craig Ferris (Ethete, WY/ Casper College) provided 10 points and 7 boards. TSU’s top scorers were junior post Peter Praznovsky with 20 points and senior post Chad Patterson with 18 points (4 of 6 three-pointers) and 9 boards. Senior guard Ryan Huntley contributed 11 points and 6 assists.