Cedric Palmer Leads ENMU with 25 Points in 88-74 Victory over Midwestern State
Greyhounds Improve to 14-7 Overall, 6-1 in LSC South

PORTALES, NM – Cedric Palmer (Sr., F, Houston, TX/McLennan CC) scored a game-high 25 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead Eastern New Mexico University to an 88-74 victory over Midwestern State University, in a Lone Star Conference game, Feb. 15 at Greyhound Arena. Palmer sank 8 of 13 field goals and made 9 of 14 free throws, while scoring more than 20 points for the fifth time this season. He tallied a career-high 29 points Feb. 6 in Eastern’s 76-69 win at Midwestern State.

In the rematch at ENMU, Palmer had 10 points at halftime, then added 15 points in the second half. He played 27 minutes for the Hounds, and excited the crowd with several dunks, one blocked shot and one steal.

Eastern improved to 14-7 on the season and to 6-1 in the LSC South. Midwestern State dropped to 7-16 overall, including 2-6 in the LSC South.

Palmer was one of three players in double figures for the Greyhounds. Junior forward Jamaal Hunnicutt (Amarillo, TX/Hill JC) added 17 points on 6 of 10 field goals and 5 of 5 free throws. He also hauled down five rebounds, to go with three assists, three steals and a blocked shot. Freshman forward Douglas Tshomba (Brussels, Belgium/La Garenne) hit double digits for the first time at ENMU, as he scored 14 points and sank 3 of 3 three-point shots.

Garland Coleman (Jr., G/F, Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor HS) had a solid overall performance for the Hounds. He scored eight points, led all players with 10 rebounds, and dished out five assists.

Kevin Iverson (Sr., G, Chicago, IL/Elgin CC) tacked on nine points, as he converted 9 of 10 charity shots. Point guard Brent Cooper (Sr., Mobile, AL/Faulkner State College) scored just four points, but grabbed four rebounds and finished the game with five assists.

In the first half, ENMU and MSU played through seven ties and nine lead changes. Even so, the Greyhounds held a 44-37 lead in the final minute of the period, before Stephen Mitchell of MSU scored the final points of the half on a 3-pointer with 31 seconds on the clock.

MSU took a 49-48 lead with 16:58 remaining on a basket by Justin James. The Indians upped their advantage to 51-48 just 18 seconds later, when James scored on a layup.
Eastern responded by scoring the next 12 points for a 60-51 lead with 13:04 left. Tshomba had six points during the run, on a 3-pointer and a traditional 3-point play.

The Indians cut their deficit down to six points, 63-57, on a basket and foul shot by Leonard Pralour with 11:24 remaining, but Eastern went on a 14-7 run for a 77-64 lead at the 5:25 mark. MSU never got closer than 11 points the rest of the way.

Marquette Wilkins and Jovani Allen led Midwestern State with 14 points apiece. Wilkins also provided the Indians with seven assists, three boards and a steal, while Allen made three 3-point baskets. Also in double figures for MSU were James, with 12 points, and Josh Drumgole, with 10 points. James grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and was 4 for 5 from both the field and the charity stripe.

ENMU shot 57.1% in the second half (12 of 21) and made 19 of 25 free throws over the final 20 minutes. For the game, the Greyhounds shot 52.0% from the field (26 of 50) and made 31 of 40 free throws (77.5%). Tshomba’s 3 for 3 performance from behind the arc helped the Greyhounds finish the game 5 of 7 on 3-pointers.

MSU converted 45.8% of its field goals attempts (27 of 59), but made just 11 of 25 shots in the second half (44.0%). The Indians were 15 of 18 at the line (83.3%) and 5 of 19 on 3-point attempts (26.3%).

Eastern achieved a 35-30 edge on the boards, and concluded the night with 19 assists on 26 baskets. Both teams committed 16 turnovers, but MSU had 13 turnovers in the second half, while the Greyhounds lost the ball eight times after the halftime break.
The Hounds remain at home to take on arch rival West Texas A&M University on Monday, Feb. 17. Tipoff at Greyhound Arena is set for 7 p.m. (MST). It will be Take A Kid to the Game Night, and special activities will include the chance for one lucky fan to win $10,000 by making a length-of-the-court putt with a golf ball.

ENMU will be fighting to retain sole possession of first place in the LSC South. The Hounds (6-1) currently hold a one-game lead over West Texas A&M (5-2) and Texas A&M University-Commerce (6-3). Last Monday (Feb. 10), WTAMU ended Eastern’s nine-game winning streak with a 69-63 win over the Greyhounds in Canyon, Texas. Last year, the Hounds swept the series, defeating the Buffaloes 82-73 at Greyhound Arena and 81-77 in overtime at WTAMU.