Athletic Report
January 19, 2002

PALMER SCORES 26 POINTS FOR GREYHOUNDS IN 81-77 WIN OVER OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE
PORTALES, NM – Cedric Palmer (Jr., F, Houston, TX/McLennan C.C.) scored a game-high 26 points on 9 of 12 shooting and 8 of 9 free throws, leading Eastern New Mexico University to an 81-77 victory over visiting Oklahoma Panhandle State University, Jan. 19 at Greyhound Arena. The non-conference win upped the Greyhounds’ season record to 9-6. OPSU fell to 2-18.

The Greyhounds, playing their third game in five days, including road games at New Mexico State University and Tarleton State University, shot just 40.6% in the first half (13 of 32), and were outrebounded by OPSU, 24-20, over the first 20 minutes. The Aggies led 34-26 with 2:47 left in the half, and took a 35-32 lead into the intermission.

Palmer, who scored 13 points in the first half, continued to lead the ENMU offense in the second half. He was 4 of 5 from the field in the second half – including two dunks – while making 5 of 5 free throws. The Greyhounds shot 62.1% (18 of 29) in the second half to finish the game at 50.8% (31 of 61) from the field.

OPSU kept the game close by converting 4 of 11 three-point shots in the second half. The Aggies also finished the game 24 of 31 at the charity stripe, while ENMU made just 18 of 27 free throws during the game. Palmer’s first dunk tied the game at 41-41 with 15:08 remaining.

The game was tied two more times before Palmer’s second dunk, a powerful monster slam assisted by Randy Johnson (Jr., G, Italy, TX/McLennan C.C.) on a fast break, gave Eastern the lead for good at 47-45. Palmer was fouled on the play, and converted the free throw for a three-point lead with 11:54 to go.

The Greyhounds led by as many as 11 points the rest of the way, but couldn’t shake the Aggies, who trailed by just 5 points, 70-65, with 1:40 left. ENMU hit 7 of 10 free throws, and added a dunk by Johnson and a jumper by Rashad Sullivan (Jr., G, Enid, OK/Rose State J.C.) to secure the win.

Panhandle State never got closer than 7 points in the final minute until Renaldo Durden hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Led by Palmer’s 26 points, the Greyhounds placed three players in double figures. Jonathan Cooper (Jr., G, Richton Park, IL/Chaffey College) contributed a double-double, with 14 points (12 in the second half) and 10 rebounds. Johnson added 10 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, while Palmer supplied 5 boards and Sullivan added 7 assists.Joel Simpson (Jr., F, Detroit, MI/ Kilgore College) provided 9 points and 8 rebounds for ENMU.

Jason Curry topped OPSU with 18 points and 7 rebounds, while Ricky Thomas produced a double-double, with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Ramon McDaniel tallied 15 points, 4 steals and 4 rebounds. Joe Bakhoum finished with 13 points, 4 boards and 4 assists. Eastern defeated OPSU, 89-69, in Goodwell, Okla., on Dec. 29, 2001.

The Greyhounds won the season series, 2-0. The victory at Greyhound Arena opened a 6-game homestand for the Hounds. Eastern also improved to 5-0 at home this season.

ENMU continues the homestand with Lone Star Conference South Division games against Abilene Christian University and Angelo State University on Thursday, Jan. 24 (8:00 p.m. MST) and Saturday, Jan. 26 (8:00 p.m. MST), respectively.