Athletic Report
November 29, 2001

CAMERON SLIPS PAST ENMU IN FINAL MINUTE
Greyhounds Fall 68-64 in Battle of Undefeated Teams
LAWTON, OKLA — Cameron University scored the final five points on a 3-pointer by Jeremy Amos with 25 seconds left and a pair of free throws by Chris Cooksey with 5 seconds remaining, as the Aggies defeated Eastern New Mexico University, 68-64, Nov. 29 in a Lone Star Conference crossover game between undefeated teams.

Cameron improved to 4-0 on the season, while ENMU fell to 3-1. Eastern rallied from a 62-56 deficit at the 3:37 mark by outscoring the Aggies 8-1 over the next three minutes. Rudy Charles (So., G, Las Vegas, NV/Durango H.S.) hit both ends of a two-shot foul with 0:45 left to complete the rally and give the Greyhounds a 64-63 lead.

The Aggies moved ahead 66-64 on Amos’ three-pointer, then got the ball back when Jon Belt (Sr., F, Broken Arrow, OK/Northeastern Oklahoma A&M) just missed a three-point attempt for ENMU with 7 seconds left. Cooksey grabbed the rebound and was fouled by

Joel Simpson (Jr., F, Detroit, MI/Kilgore College). Cooksey made both free throws to finish the scoring. Amos connected on 6 of 10 three-pointers, although Cameron’s other players made just 2 of 12 three-pointers (16.7%) overall. Amos and Cooksey both scored 18 points to lead CU, while Wayne Oliver and Ramiro Loera each added 8 points for the Aggies.Oliver also grabbed 6 rebounds to trail only Alex Ihler (7 boards) in rebounding for Cameron.

ENMU led 29-27 at halftime after closing the first half with a 7-0 run. Belt, who began the run with two free throws at the 1:41 mark and concluded the run with a rebound and basket with 0:31 left, finished the half with 7 points for the Greyhounds.

The Hounds started the second half with another run, outscoring the Aggies, 14-4, over the first 6:46 of the period. Eastern’s run, which included two field goals each by Simpson and Jonathan Cooper (Jr., G, Richton Park, IL/Chaffey College), as well as one three-pointer by Belt and another by Charles, gave the Greyhounds a 43-31 lead.

Cameron answered with 31-13 offensive surge that resulted in a 62-56 lead for the Aggies. The run included four 3-pointers by Amos. CU took its first lead of the second half, 57-56, on two free throws by Marcus Girtmon with 5:00 remaining. Brian Colbert’s layup and foul provided the final points of the offensive explosion, as CU achieved its largest lead of the game.

Charles led ENMU with 18 points, while Cooper hit 8 of 16 field goals and provided the Hounds with 16 points. Belt finished with 10 points and grabbed 6 rebounds, helping ENMU achieve a 40-36 rebounding margin. Simpson and Garland Coleman (So., G/F, Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor H.S.) each hauled down 5 rebounds. Simpson also registered 6 points, 3 steals and 2 assists.

ENMU shot an impressive 59.1% (13 of 22) in the second half, while limiting Cameron to 31.0% (9 of 29) in the final 20 minutes. The Greyhounds, however, committed 16 fouls and 16 turnovers in the second half, while the Aggies sank 18 of 22 free throws. ENMU was 7 of 8 at the foul line in the second half.

For the game, ENMU was 24 of 51 (47.1%) from the field and 12 of 15 at the line. The Aggies were 21 of 63 (33.3%) on field goals, but offset their shooting woes by grabbing 21 offensive rebounds and connecting on 18 of 25 free throws. Eastern made 26 turnovers, compared to 17 turnovers by Cameron.

The Greyhounds remain on the road for another LSC crossover game on Saturday, Dec. 1, at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Tipoff in Weatherford, Okla., is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. (MST).