ENMU will Host LSC Semifinals and Championship game
on Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8

PORTALES, NM – Eastern New Mexico University shot 61.6% from the floor and placed five players in double figures, as the Greyhounds opened the 2003 Lone Star Conference Tournament with a 112-79 victory over East Central University, March 4 at Greyhound Arena. The LSC quarterfinal win advanced ENMU, 20-7 overall, into the LSC semifinals, which will be hosted by the Greyhounds on Friday, March 7. Eastern also will host the LSC championship game on Saturday, March 8. East Central concluded its season at 12-16.

ENMU, which won the LSC South with an 11-1 record, was victorious for the 16th time in its last 17 games. The Hounds achieved their highest score of the season and the first game over 100 points since a 101-91 overtime win at New Mexico Highlands on Nov. 23, 2001.

Cedric Palmer (Sr., F, Houston, TX/McLennan CC) led the Greyhounds with 25 points on 9 of 14 field goals and 7 of 9 free throws. Jamaal Hunnicutt (So., F, Amarillo, TX/Hill JC) added 16 points and six rebounds, while converting 8 of 9 field goals attempts. He also earned four assists and one steal.

Kevin Iverson (Sr., G, Chicago, IL/Elgin CC) provided 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists. He was 7 of 10 from the field. Brent Cooper (Jr., G, Mobile, AL/Faulkner State College) tacked on 10 points and six assists, while Randy Johnson (Sr., G, Italy, TX/McLennan CC) earned 10 points, two assists and two steals.

The game was a close, high-scoring affair for most of the first half. ECU led by four points, 17-13, at the 14:33 mark, and held a three-point margin, 22-19, at the 10:57 mark, following a layup by Theran Floyd.

ENMU answered with a 3-pointer by Johnson with 10:17 left in the half, then moved in front for good, 25-22, on a 3-pointer by Jon Belt (Sr., F, Broken Arrow, OK/NE Oklahoma A&M) with 9:13 on the clock. The Hounds were ahead by only one point, 35-34, with 5:10 left, but went on a 19-3 run for a 54-37 lead with 47 seconds to go. ECU scored the final basket of the half with 1.3 seconds remaining, on a rebound and jumper by Antoine Benoit.

Eastern opened the second half with a 15-9 run over the first 5:30 to take a 69-48 lead. ECU recorded the next to baskets, both by Jason Wilkerson, but the Greyhounds countered with a 9-0 run and kept pulling away.

The Greyhounds finished the night with 45 baskets on 73 field goal attempts, falling four field goals short of the ENMU record (49 FGs vs. N.M. Highlands, Jan. 31, 1978). Eastern hit 65.5% (21 of 32) from the floor in the second half. The Hounds also made 5 of 12 three-pointers and converted 17 of 20 free throws.

East Central was led by Wilkerson, the LSC’s leading scorer. He registered 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while hitting 8 of 20 field goals (4 of 13 three-pointers). Wilkerson entered the game averaging 21.2 points per contest.

Karlin House contributed 16 points and three 3-pointers for the Tigers. Benoit tallied 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Floyd earned 10 points, four rebounds and three assists.

The Greyhounds outrebounded ECU, 37-31, and committed just seven turnovers, while forcing 14 mistakes by the Tigers. ENMU also amassed 29 assists, with David Hamilton (Jr., G, Grand Prairie, TX/Cisco JC) achieving seven assists and Cooper adding six assists.

A season-high crowd of 2,350 fans arrived at Greyhound Arena to watch the Hounds take on East Central. ENMU has averaged 1,919 fans in its last four home games.
ENMU will take on Tarleton State University (26-2) in the semifinals on Friday. Game time is tentatively set for 8 p.m. (MST). Tarleton State defeated Texas A&M University-Commerce, 81-67, in the quarterfinals.

In the other semifinal game, Northeastern State University (26-2) will take on West Texas A&M University (19-9), with tip-off tentatively set for 6 p.m. (MST). NSU edged Midwestern State University, 64-62, on a last second 3-pointer in the quarterfinals, while WTAMU defeated the University of Central Oklahoma, 88-84, in the other quarterfinal game.

Tip-off has not yet been determined for the LSC Championship game on Saturday. All game times will be solidified on Wednesday in a meeting between ENMU Athletic Director Mike Maguire and LSC Commissioner Fred Jacoby, plus the teams involved in the semifinals.