Greyhounds Place Six in Double Figures, Defeat Oklahoma Panhandle State, 97-71
OPSU Plays 4:40 with Three Men after Three Foul Out

GOODWELL, OK — Eastern New Mexico University placed six players in double figures, and Oklahoma Panhandle State University completed the game with just three players after three fouled out, as the Greyhounds defeated the Aggies, 97-71, in non-conference action on Thursday, Dec. 18. ENMU improved to 6-3, while OPSU fell to 0-7.

Travazz Buckley (Jr., F, Slidell, LA/Faulkner State College) led the Greyhounds with 14 points. Jamal Washington (Jr., G, Ontario, CA/Victor Valley College), Garland Coleman (Sr., G, Chicago, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor HS) and Kennis Green (Jr., F, Houston, TX/Blinn JC) each scored 13 points. Jamaal Hunnicutt (Jr., F, Amarillo, TX/Hill JC) tacked on 12 points and Brent Cooper (Sr., G, Mobile, AL/Faulkner State College) produced 11 points. Irshaun Pinckney (Jr., G, Clovis, NM/Clovis HS) added nine points for the Greyhounds.

OPSU started the game with just six players. Kenneth Barrett fouled out with about six minutes remaining. Andrew Harlie picked up his fifth foul at the 5:00 mark, leaving the Aggies with four players. With 4:40 to go, Shane Slover also fouled out, and OPSU was left with only three players on the floor.

The game was close for most of the first half, but ENMU pulled away in the final last few minutes of the period. The Hounds and Aggies were tied, 28-28, with 6:10 left, but ENMU ran off 17 unanswered points to end the half with a 45-28 lead. Eastern opened the second half by scoring the next four points, increasing the lead to 21 points, 49-28.

Panhandle State trailed 60-33 with 16:45 remaining, but the Aggies managed to rally to within 10 points, 76-66, after Jecorey Leggins hit a short field goal with 5:35 left. The game quickly unraveled for the Aggies, when Green sank a 3-pointer for ENMU at the 5:15 mark, followed by two free throws from Cooper when Harlie fouled out 15 seconds later.

Cooper’s free throws gave Eastern an 81-66 lead. OPSU still had four men left at that point, but Slover fouled out when he made contact with Green on a successful layup 20 seconds later. Green missed the free throw, leaving ENMU with an 83-66 advantage.

Buckley not only led the Greyhounds in scoring with 14 points, he also led ENMU with 10 rebounds. He earned two steals and blocked one shot, while playing just 17 minutes. Green, Cooper, Hunnicutt and Washington each hauled down six rebounds, as Eastern accumulated a 53-30 rebounding margin. Cooper led the Hounds with seven assists and five blocked shots, and Washington led the way with four of Eastern’s 13 steals.

Eastern shot 52.6% for the game (41 of 78), and held Panhandle State to 40.0% from the field (26 of 65). The Aggies were 8 of 25 on three-pointers and 11 of 14 at the line. ENMU made 3 of 8 three-pointers and 12 of 19 free throws.

OPSU was led by Harlie with 21 points. Ramon McDaniel scored 19 points and Barrett contributed 16 points. Leggins added 11 points. The Aggies scored eight three-pointers, as Barrett hit four, McDaniel recorded three and Harlie sank one.

The Aggies received nine rebounds from Leggins, who also blocked three shots, earned two assists and recorded two steals. Harlie added six rebounds to go with three assists, while McDaniel led OPSU with six assists.

ENMU completed a stretch of eight consecutive road games with the win. The Greyhounds went 5-3 in those games.

Eastern has not played at home since defeating the University of the Incarnate Word, 76-62, on Nov. 18. The Hounds will play their second home game of the season on Wednesday, Dec. 31, in a rematch with OPSU. Game time at Greyhound Arena is scheduled for 3 p.m. (MST).