ENMU Defeats Angelo State, 93-88, in Overtime
Iverson Leads Greyhounds with 23 Points, Including Seven Points in Extra Session

PORTALES, NM – Kevin Iverson (Sr., G, Chicago, IL/Elgin CC) committed a key foul in the final second of regulation, then scored seven points and grabbed three rebounds in overtime, to lead Eastern New Mexico University to a 93-88 win over Angelo State University, in Lone Star Conference action, Feb. 20 at Greyhound Arena. ENMU improved to 16-7 with its 12th win in 13 games, while retaining first place in the LSC South at 8-1. Angelo State fell to 14-11 on the season, including 4-6 in the LSC South.

ENMU leads the LSC South by two games over Texas A&M-Commerce (6-3) and West Texas A&M (6-3). With the win over Angelo State, the Greyhounds have clinched a berth in the LSC Tournament, set for Mar. 4, 7 and 8. Four teams from each division will qualify for the tournament. ASU and Abilene Christian (4-6) are tied for fourth place in the LSC South.

Iverson led all scorers with 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while earning two assists and two blocks. He fouled Matt Hardin of ASU with one-half second remaining in regulation, after Hardin stole the ball near Eastern’s 3-point arc with four seconds left and was in the process of shooting a layup. Hardin missed the layup, and after ASU called time-out, he also missed both free throws. Iverson grabbed the rebound to force overtime.

Eastern went 9 for 12 at the free throw line during overtime. Iverson scored the first points of the period on two free throws with 4:34 remaining. Just under a minute later, he rebounded his own shot, and followed with a layup, for an 86-82 lead with 3:36 left.
After Toby Thompson cut the lead to 86-84 on a layup for the Rams with 3:04 remaining, Iverson put in two more free throws at the 1:45 mark. He added one free throw on two attempts with 1:06 left, as ENMU increased its lead to 89-84.

The Greyhounds led 91-85 with 23 second to go on a free throw by Cedric Palmer (Sr., F, Houston, TX/McLennan CC). Thompson of ASU was fouled on a 3-point shot with 11 seconds left, and sank all three free throws. Brent Cooper (Sr., G, Mobile, AL/Faulkner State College) sealed the win for ENMU with two charity shots, also with 11 seconds remaining.

ENMU led by as many as 16 points in the first half, and held a 47-33 lead at the break. The Greyhounds received 10 first-half points from Garland Coleman (Jr., G/F, Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor HS) and eight first-half points from Iverson.
The Hounds led 53-37 with 18:09 left, but ASU went on a 13-5 run to cut the margin to 58-50 with 13:26 to go. ENMU followed with a 9-0 run for a 67-50 lead at the 11:03 mark.
ASU gradually cut into the 17-point deficit. Thompson hit a 3-pointer with 7:50 on the clock to pull the Rams within 69-60. A 3-pointer by Hardin reduced the margin to seven points, 74-67, with 5:39 left, and a layup and foul shot by Hardin cut the lead to 76-70 at the 4:41 mark.

Eastern led by eight points, 82-74, following a layup by Iverson with 3:14 to go. Thompson drained another 3-pointer for ASU with 3:00 left, then hit his fifth trifecta of the game with 2:01 remaining, as the Rams pulled within 82-80. Hardin tied the game on a layup with 1:16 left.

Neither team scored again in regulation. It appeared ENMU would take the final shot of the second half after Cooper grabbed a defensive rebound with 24 seconds left. Hardin’s steal, Iverson’s foul and the two missed free throws brought a heart-pounding finish to the period.

ENMU finished the night shooting 54.4% from the field (31 of 57). The Hounds also made 5 of 14 three-point shots (35.7%) and converted 26 of 33 free throws (78.8%).
Angelo State shot 42.4% from the field (28 of 66), but made 16 of 28 shots (57.1%) in the second half. The Rams connected on 9 of 26 three-pointers and went 23 of 30 at the line (76.7%).

The Greyhounds totaled 21 turnovers, including five in the final 8:28 of regulation. ASU was guilty of 17 turnovers, but had no turnovers in the final 10 minutes of the second half.

Thompson of ASU led all scorers with 33 points. He was 9 of 18 from the field, 5 of 9 on three-point shots and 10 of 10 at the line. Hardin completed the game with 12 points, but was just 1 of 6 on three-pointers. Nate Gordon added 10 points. ASU’s leading scorer for the season, Germaine Chase, was held to four points on 1 of 7 shooting.
Iverson’s 23 points were the second highest in his ENMU career. He scored 27 points on Nov. 21, 2000, in Eastern’s 96-94 double-overtime win over New Mexico Highlands University.

Following Iverson for ENMU were Palmer, with 19 points and eight rebounds, and Cooper, with 12 points and five assists. Coleman finished with 10 points, while Randy Johnson (Sr., G, Italy, TX/McLennan CC) scored nine points and Jamaal Hunnicutt (So., F, Amarillo, TX/Hill JC) tallied six points and a game-high nine rebounds. ENMU achieved a 42-28 rebounding lead.

Eastern will complete a 4-game homestand on Saturday, Feb. 22, against Abilene Christian. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. (MST). A win by ENMU would clinch at least a tie for the LSC South title and would secure home-field advantage in the quarterfinal round of the LSC Tournament.