ENMU Clinches at Least a Tie for LSC South Title with 87-74 Win over Abilene Christian
Hounds Will Host LSC Quarterfinal on March 4

PORTALES, NM – The Eastern New Mexico University men’s basketball team played its final regular season home game on Saturday, Feb. 22, against Abilene Christian University. Two of Eastern’s seniors, Cedric Palmer (F, Houston, TX/McLennan CC) and Kevin Iverson (G, Chicago, IL/Elgin, CC) made sure the Greyhounds would play at least one more home game this season, as both players scored 19 points to lead ENMU to an 87-74 win over the Wildcats.

ENMU improved to 17-7 overall and 9-1 in the LSC South, while winning for the 13th time in its last 14 games. The Greyhounds clinched at least a tie for the LSC South title, and assured themselves of a home game in the quarterfinals of the LSC Tournament on Tuesday, Mar. 4. Abilene Christian fell to 13-2 overall and 4-7 in the LSC South.

The Greyhounds, who hold a two-game lead over West Texas A&M (7-3) with two games left in the regular season, will win the LSC South title outright or will tie for first with WTAMU. In the event of a co-championship, the top seed for the LSC Tournament will be chosen on a coin toss by Commissioner Fred Jacoby. ENMU and WTAMU would be tied in all of the tie-breakers prior to the coin toss.

If ENMU is the top-seeded team from the LSC South, the Greyhounds will host the fourth place team from the LSC North on Mar. 4. If the Hounds are seeded second in the LSC South, they will host the third place team from the LSC North on Mar. 4. If ENMU is seeded first in the LSC South and wins its game on Mar. 4., the Greyhounds will host the LSC semifinals and championship game Mar. 7-8. ENMU won the LSC Tournament title in 1992-93.

Palmer and Iverson led five ENMU players in double figures. Irshaun Pinckney (So., G, Clovis, NM/Clovis HS) and Garland Coleman (Jr., G/F, Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor HS) scored 14 points apiece, while Jamaal Hunnicutt (So., F, Amarillo, TX/Hill JC) tacked on 10 points for ENMU.

ACU received a game-high 24 points from Rodney Lee, who connected on 7 of 14 field goals, including 6 of 9 three-points shots. Lee converted 6 of 8 three-pointers, and scored 27 points overall, in Eastern’s 97-82 win at ACU on Jan. 23.

The Greyhounds and the Wildcats remained close throughout the first half. There were 15 lead changes and 14 ties during the first 20 minutes. ENMU led 43-41 at halftime following a layup by Coleman with three seconds left.

Pinckney led Eastern’s first half efforts. He finished the period with 10 points and three rebounds. He converted 5 of 6 field goals in the first half.

ACU sank 7 of 14 three-point shots in the opening stanza, while earning a 20-16 edge on the boards. The Wildcats finished the night 11 of 23 from behind the 3-point arc, but ended up trailing ENMU, 36-33, in overall rebounds.

The teams were tied for a 15th time, 47-47, with 17:36 remaining. ENMU scored the next eight points - six by Coleman and two from Palmer - for a 55-47 lead at the 15:29 mark. ACU moved as close as two points, 59-57, with 11:49 to go, but Eastern recorded the next six points and never relinquished the lead.

ENMU held an 81-70 lead with 2:36 left, after Palmer converted a 3-point play. Abilene Christian scored two quick baskets, both on layups by Cliff Green, to cut the deficit to 81-74 at the 2:08 mark. ACU did not score again, as ENMU tallied the final six points of the game.

The Hounds converted 26 of 31 free throws during the game. Iverson led the way by sinking 13 of 14 charity shots. Hunnicutt was 6 of 8 and Palmer was 5 of 7.

Palmer led the Hounds in rebounding with 6 boards, while Hunnicutt, Iverson and Brent Cooper (Jr., G, Mobile, AL/Faulkner State College) each grabbed five rebounds. ENMU made only 10 turnovers, while ACU lost the ball 16 times. The Hounds blocked four shots and earned eight steals. Eastern was 3 of 8 on 3-pointers and shot 50.0% overall (29 of 58).

The Greyhounds return to action on Thursday, Feb. 27, in an LSC South game against Texas A&M-Kingsville. Tipoff in Kingsville, Texas, is set for 7 p.m. (MST). ENMU slipped past the Javelinas, 78-70, at Greyhound Arena on Feb. 1.