Travazz Buckley and Jamaal Hunnicutt Score 17 Points Each in 92-52 Win over OPSU
Greyhounds Improve to 7-3 on the Season

PORTALES, NM — Travazz Buckley (Jr., F, Slidell, LA/Faulkner State College) scored 17 points and hauled down 11 rebounds, and Jamaal Hunnicutt (Jr., F, Amarillo, TX/Hill JC) tacked on 17 points and 9 boards, as Eastern New Mexico University defeated visiting Oklahoma Panhandle State University, 92-52, at Greyhound Arena on Wednesday, Dec. 31. The Greyhounds improved to 7-3 overall with their fifth win in a row. OPSU dropped to 0-10.

Buckley was 8 of 12 from the floor and 1 for 1 at the free throw line. He has averaged 17.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per game in three appearances since becoming eligible for Eastern’s game at the University of the Incarnate Word on Dec. 13. He has recorded a double-double in all three games, including 14 points and 10 rebounds in the Hounds’ 97-71 win at OPSU on Dec. 18.

In Wednesday’s win, Hunnicutt sank 7 of 11 field goals and went 3 for 3 at the line. He has averaged 10.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per contest, while starting all 10 games this season.

Buckley and Hunnicutt played key roles throughout the game. They combined for 21 points and 14 boards in the first half, helping ENMU built a 41-23 lead at the break. Hunnicutt scored 13 points in the opening period, while Buckley grabbed eight rebounds.

OPSU, which competed with just six players in the team’ first meeting Dec. 18, also suited up six players in the rematch. It was the Aggies’ first game since Rick Thomas was elevated from assistant coach to interim head coach following the resignation of Earl Trice on Dec. 30.

ENMU led 8-2 and created an 14-4 lead in the first 3:24. The Greyhounds extended the margin to 18-4 on a layup by Hunnicutt with 13:20 remaining in the half. Eastern led by 15 points, 29-14, on a basket and foul shot by Hunnicutt with 7:31 on the clock.

The Aggies cut the lead to 35-23 when Andrew Harlie scored with 2:10 left, but ENMU scored the final six points of the half to increase the lead to 18 points at the intermission. Garland Coleman (Sr., G, Chicago, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor HS) scored on a layup with 25 seconds remaining in the period to complete the 6-0 run.

Brent Cooper (Sr., G, Mobile, AL/Faulkner State College) and Kennis Green (Jr., F, Houston, TX/Blinn JC) opened the second half with back-to-back scores, increasing the ENMU lead to 45-23 with 18:56 left. OPSU countered with five straight points, including a 3-pointer by Kenneth Barrett, but Eastern answered with a 13-5 run for a 58-33 advantage at the 11:47 mark. The margin reached 31 points on a layup by Coleman with 8:48 left. The Aggies scored the next two points on free throws by Harlie, but it was the last time OPSU moved the deficit below 30 points.

Buckley and Hunnicutt led four Greyhounds in double figures. Green scored 16 points, including two 3-point shots. Irshaun Pinckney (Jr., G, Clovis, NM/Clovis HS) added 12 points on 5 of 7 shooting. He also grabbed seven rebounds, recorded two assists and blocked two shots. Coleman provided eight points to go with seven rebounds.

The Greyhounds achieved a 66-31 rebounding edge and earned 29 assists on 41 baskets. Cooper, Eastern’s starting point guard, led all players with seven assists (five in the first half). Backup point guard David Hamilton (Sr., Grand Prairie, TX/Cisco JC) registered six assists, including five in a 4:33 span in the second half. Hunnicutt and Coleman both contributed five assists for the Hounds.

Eastern shot 52.6% for the game (41 of 78), including 59.5% in the second half (22 of 37). The Greyhounds made 15 first-half turnovers, but had just five turnovers in the second half. ENMU blocked six OPSU shots and limited Panhandle State to 25.3% field goal accuracy during the game (20 of 79). Harlie led OPSU with three blocked shots, helping the Aggies recorded five blocks overall.

Panhandle State hit just 4 of 21 three-pointers (19.0%), but made 8 of 9 free throws. ENMU also hit 8 of 9 attempts at the free throw line. OPSU committed only 13 turnovers, including four turnovers in the second half.

The Greyhounds remain at home for a Lone Star Conference crossover game against Southeastern Oklahoma on Saturday, Jan. 3. Game time at Greyhound Arena is set for 4 p.m. (MST). Crossover games do not count in the LSC divisional standings.