ENMU Rallies from 10-Point Halftime Deficit to Edge East Central University, 60-57
Jon Belt Sinks 3-Pointer with 0:59 Left to Break 55-55 Tie

ADA, OK – Senior forward Jon Belt (Broken Arrow, OK/NE Oklahoma A&M) hit a 3-point basket with 0:59 remaining to break a 55-55 tie, and Brent Cooper (Jr., G, Mobile, AL/Faulkner State College) added two free throws in the closing seconds, as Eastern New Mexico University defeated East Central University, 60-57, in a Lone Star Conference crossover game, Jan. 11 in Ada, Okla. ENMU trailed 31-21 at halftime, but rallied for its second road victory in three days to improve to 6-6 on the season. East Central dropped to 5-8.

The Tigers had a change to tie the game following Belt’s 3-pointer, but Jason Wilkerson missed a 3-pointer with 0:27 left. Cooper’s free throws at the 11-second mark gave ENMU a 60-55 lead. Karlin House sank a jump shot for ECU with four seconds left to finish the scoring.

Eastern played without LSC South Preseason Player-of-the-Year Cedric Palmer (Sr., F, Houston, TX/McLennan CC) for the second game in a row. Palmer missed the game due to a swollen knee. His status remains day-to-day.

ENMU began the two-game trip with a 57-55 win over SE Oklahoma State University on Thursday, Jan. 9. The Greyhounds rallied from a 25-21 halftime deficit to defeat the Savages. Crossover games do not count in the LSC division standings.

At East Central, the Hounds trailed 4-0 and 13-6, but tied the game at 13-13 on a jumper by David Hamilton (Jr., G, Grand Prairie, TX/Cisco JC) with 7:46 left in the half. The teams also were tied 15-15, before the Tigers went on a 10-1 run for a 25-16 advantage. ECU held the lead the rest of the half, and achieved a 10-point cushion when Jason Wilkerson converted a pair of free throws with five seconds on the clock.

The Hounds fell behind by 12 points two times early in the second half, then trailed 37-27 with 15:31 remaining. ENMU cut the margin to 37-31 on a jumper by forward Jamaal Hunnicutt (So., Amarillo, TX/Hill JC) with 14:55 to go, and a steal and layup by Cooper with 14:38 left.

ECU regained a nine-point advantage, 44-35, after a three-point play by Wilkerson at the 12:07 mark, but the Tigers were unable to hold the lead. Belt sank a jumper with 9:09 left to pull within 44-43. Neither team scored for more than a minute, before Jason Schroeder netted a jump shot for ECU with 8:00 remaining. Randy Johnson (Sr., G, Italy, TX/McLennan CC) scored an converted a free throw for ENMU at the 7:43 mark to tie the game.

East Central regained the lead on a jumper by Winfred Craig. The Tigers remained in front until Kevin Iverson (Sr., G, Chicago, IL/Elgin CC) tied the game, 51-51, on two free throws with 4:24 left. Eastern moved in front with 3:13 remaining, on a basket by Hunnicutt.

The Greyhounds never trailed the rest of the way, although ECU tied the game at 53-53 and 55-55. Belt’s three-pointer - the Hounds’ only 3-pointer of the game - gave Eastern the lead for good.

Hunnicutt led all scorers with 20 points. He hit 9 of 13 field goals, and also contributed three blocked shots and two assists in 35 minutes played. Belt added nine points, four rebounds and four assists, while Hamilton finished with eight points on three of three field goals and two of three charity shots. Garland Coleman (Jr., G/F, Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor HS) also scored eight points, to go with a team-high five rebounds.

ECU was led by Wilkerson, who scored 17 points and had six rebounds and two blocked shots. Craig supplied 10 points and seven rebounds, while Jason Roberson chipped in nine points and Schroeder added eight points.

ENMU shot just 36.8% (7 of 19) in the first half, but improved to 53.6% shooting (15 of 28) in the second half. Eastern finished the game at 46.8% overall (22 of 47). The Greyhounds also sank 15 of 18 charity shots (83.3%), including eight of nine in the second half. ENMU made one of five 3-point attempts.

The Tigers were held to 42.9% from the floor (21 of 49) by the Greyhounds. ECU was just three of 13 on 3-pointers (23.1%), including three of 10 in the first half. East Central hit 12 of 13 free throws (92.3%) and achieved a 36-21 rebounding margin.

Eastern New Mexico University will play its next two games at Greyhound Arena. Eastern will host Cameron University on Thursday, Jan. 16 at 7:30 p.m. (MST). The Hounds will take on Southwestern Oklahoma State University on Saturday, Jan. 18, at 4:00 p.m. (MST).