Athletic Report
February 26, 2002

NORTHEASTERN STATE ENDS ENMU SEASON WITH 71-59 WIN IN LSC TOURNAMENT
Greyhounds Conclude Year with 15-12 Record
TAHLEQUAH, OK – The surprising late season run by the Eastern New Mexico University men’s basketball team, which included three consecutive road victories during the final week of the regular season, came to an end Feb. 26 against Northeastern State, the #2-ranked team in NCAA Division II, as the Greyhounds and Redmen met in the first round of the Lone Star Conference Tournament. Northeastern State defeated ENMU, 71-59, to improve to 26-1 on the season, while advancing into the LSC semifinals. The Greyhounds’ season ended at 15-12, as Eastern finished 11 wins above its 4-22 mark in 2000-01.

ENMU Head Coach Shawn Scanlan, who took over the Greyhounds after the National Letter of Intent signing date in April, 2000, completed his second year at Eastern. The current season was his first at ENMU with the benefit of a full recruiting year. The extra time paid off, as the Hounds qualified for their first LSC Tournament berth since 1996-97. Eastern also earned its first winning record since the 1996-97 team finished 18-9 overall.

The Greyhounds, who tied for third place in the LSC South at 6-6, were seeded #4 from the South Division when LSC Tournament pairings were announced. NSU was the #1 seed from the North Division after earning an 11-1 record in LSC North action. Eastern played its final four regular season games and the LSC Tournament game at NSU with just seven players, after three players left the team Feb. 11. Even so, ENMU won 3 of the 5 games, including an 81-77 overtime win at West Texas A&M on Feb. 18, an 86-80 victory at Angelo State on Feb. 21 and a 71-70 win at Abilene Christian on Feb. 23.

Against NSU, Eastern scored the first basket, a 3-pointer by Randy Johnson (Jr., G, Italy, TX/McLennan C.C.) at the 18:38 mark, but Shon Robinson answered with a 3-pointer for NE State 12 seconds later. ENMU also led 5-3 on a basket by Cedric Palmer (Jr., F, Houston, TX/McLennan C.C), but Robinson hit another 3-pointer 16 seconds later, and ENMU never regained the lead. The Greyhounds, who trailed by as many as 13 points, 30-17, in the first half, rallied to within seven points, 34-27, at the intermission.

Johnson led Eastern’s first-half charge with 11 points on 4 of 6 field goal attempts, including 3 of 4 on 3-point shots. NSU received 12 points from Robinson in the first half. Northeastern State held an 8-point lead, 37-29, with 17:55 left in the game, but the Redmen went on a 6-0 run to increase the advantage to 14 points.

The NSU lead was 12 points with 12:57 remaining, following a basket by ENMU’s Garland Coleman (So., G/F, Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor H.S.). A 15-3 run followed for Northeastern, as ENMU fell behind by 24 points, 62-38. Gradually, the Greyhounds reduced the lead, eventually cutting it to 15 points, 66-51, with 3:11 remaining. Eastern pulled within 70-59 when Palmer scored with 34 seconds left.

Ozzie Lockhart of NSU completed the scoring when he hit the first of two free throws less than a second later. Jon Belt (Jr., F, Broken Arrow, OK/Northeastern Oklahoma A&M) was Eastern’s top player with 18 points and 8 rebounds. He was 6 of 10 on field goals (2 of 3 three-pointers), and sank 4 of 4 free throws to finish the year 41 of 45 (.911) at the line. He fouled out with 1:29 remaining. Johnson contributed 16 points and led the Greyhounds with four 3-pointers.

Coleman tallied 6 points and tied Belt for the team lead with 8 rebounds. Irshaun Pinckney (Fr., G, Clovis, NM/Clovis H.S.) produced 9 points, Jamaal Hunnicutt (Fr., F, Amarillo, TX/Hill J.C./Randall H.S.) grabbed 7 rebounds, and Palmer chipped in 8 points and 4 boards. NE State was led by Robinson, who scored 21 points, including four 3-point shots. Jon Shepherd added 18 points and a game-high 16 rebounds, while hitting 6 of 7 field goal attempts. Darnell Hinson provided the Redmen with 10 points, 3 assists and 3 steals.

The Greyhounds connected on 21 of 53 shots (39.6%) overall, including 6 of 15 three-point attempts (40.0%). NE State was 24 of 61 from the field (39.3%) and 7 of 30 frombehind the arc (23.3%). The Redmen were 16 of 26 at the line, while ENMU was 11 of 18. NE State gained a 42-41 rebounding margin, including 15 offensive boards. The Redmen also committed just 7 turnovers, while forcing 15 turnovers by ENMU.