Central Oklahoma Holds Off Greyhounds, 71-65

PORTALES, NM – Eastern New Mexico University overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to tie the University of Central Oklahoma at 62-62 with 2:12 remaining, but B.J. Raney hit two free throws with 1:49 left, giving UCO the lead for good in a 71-65 victory over ENMU, Jan. 2 at Greyhound Arena. Central Oklahoma improved to 5-4 on the season, and the Greyhounds fell to 4-5. The LSC crossover game does not count in the division standings.

UCO started the game on fire, hitting 11 of its first 13 shots (84.6%). The Bronchos cooled down a bit over the remainder of the first half, but still connected on 17 of 26 field goals (65.4%) during the first 20 minutes. UCO also sank 5 of 8 three pointers in the first half.

ENMU hit just 35.7% of its first half shots (10 of 28), but converted five of 11 shots from three-point range and seven of nine free-throws.

Despite UCO’s exceptional first-half shooting, the Bronchos never led by double digits until Jason Pritchett’s dunk with 1:17 left in the half. Neither team scored again before halftime, as the Bronchos took a 42-32 lead in to the locker room.

The Greyhounds trailed by 10 points a second time at 44-34 early in the second half, but ENMU gradually rallied, and pulled within two points, 52-50, on a layup by Irshaun Pinckney (So., G, Clovis, NM/Clovis HS) with 10:19 remaining. A layup by Kevin Iverson (Sr., G, Chicago, IL/Elgin CC) also cut the deficit to two points at 58-56 with 6:43 to go.
ENMU got within two pints two more times before senior forward Cedric Palmer (Houston, TX/McLennan CC) tied the game with a layup at the 2:12 mark. Brent Cooper (Jr., G, Mobile, AL/Faulkner State College) was called for a foul twenty-three seconds later and Raney hit both charity shots to move UCO back in front.

UCO moved in front by four points, 66-62, before Palmer converted the second of two free throws for Eastern with 27 seconds left. ENMU’s chances of tying the game and forcing overtime all but vanished when Pritchett hauled in a lengthy in-bounds pass and dunked the ball just seconds later. Pritchett added one of two free throws with fourteen seconds left.

The Hounds got within four points, 69-65, when Cooper sank a layup with seven seconds left, but Steven Alexander made two free throws for UCO less than a second later to clinch the win for the Bronchos. Cooper missed a three-pointer at the buzzer.
Pritchett led Central Oklahoma with 18 points and 10 rebounds. No other Broncho had more than three rebounds during the game. Pritchett was 7 of 10 from the field. He also blocked three ENMU field goals.

Demario Jones and Jonathan Nubine also reached double figures for UCO, with 16 points and 14 points respectively. Jones, who fought foul trouble in the second half, hit seven of 10 field goals and finished the game with four fouls. Nubine was five of eight from the field, including three of five on 3-point shots.

ENMU’s top player was Palmer, who finished with a team-high 19 points and 10 rebounds. He was consistently fouled on the low post, and converted 13 of 16 free throws, but made just three of 10 field goal attempts. Iverson and Cooper each added 10 points for ENMU, while Garland Coleman (Jr., G/F, Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor HS) supplied seven rebounds and scored five points. Cooper grabbed five rebounds and recorded three steals.

UCO shot just 42.9% in the second half (9 of 21) to drop to 55.3% for the game (26 of 47), but ENMU managed only 26.5% accuracy (9 of 34) over the final 20 minutes. The Greyhounds shot 30.6% (19 of 62) for the game. ENMU was 22 of 31 (71.0%) at the free throw line.

The Greyhounds, who have played two games in a three-game homestand, will battle the Redmen of Northeastern State University in an LSC crossover game on Saturday, Jan. 4, starting at 4 p.m. (MST). NSU, defeated ENMU, 71-59, in the quarterfinals of the LSC Tournament last season. The Redmen went on to win the LSC title.