Tarleton State Holds Off Greyhounds, 64-58
Texans (Ranked #2 in NCAA Division II) Advance Into
LSC Championship game against West Texas A&M

PORTALES, NM – Tarleton State University, ranked #2 in NCAA Division II, opened the second half with a 12-4 run for a 39-30 lead, then held off Eastern New Mexico University down the stretch, as the Texans defeated the Greyhounds, 64-58, in the semifinals of the Lone Star Conference Tournament, Friday, Mar. 7, at Greyhound Arena. TSU improved to 27-2 with the win, while ENMU dropped to 20-8 with the loss.

The victory also advanced Tarleton State into the LSC championship game on Saturday, Mar. 8, at 7 p.m. (MST). The Texans will take on West Texas A&M University (20-9), which defeated Northeastern State University, 78-56, in Friday’s first semifinal game. NSU entered the semifinals ranked #4 in NCAA Division II.

The winner of Saturday’s championship game will receive the LSC’s automatic berth in the 2003 NCAA Division II National Tournament. Regardless of the outcome, Tarleton State and Northeastern State are virtually assured of at-large bids into the South Central Regional, while ENMU will have to wait for the announcement of tournament selections on Monday, Mar. 10.

Eastern opened the semifinal game by scoring the first six points and building an 8-2 lead over the first three minutes. TSU cut the deficit to 16-13, with 10:53 remaining in the first half, but the Hounds scored the next eight points for a 24-13 lead at the 8:34 mark. Randy Johnson (Sr., G, Italy, TX/McLennan CC) hit two 3-pointers during the 8-0 run.

After the Greyhounds built their 11-point lead, Tarleton State failed to score on its next five possessions - the Texans missed four shots and had one turnover - but the Greyhounds also failed to score. TSU cut the lead to 24-15 on a layup by Tierrius Thomas with 5:54 left in the half to start a 12-0 run. ENMU continued to struggle on offense, ultimately going 8:03 before Jon Belt (Sr., F, Broken Arrow, OK/NE Oklahoma A&M) sank a jumper with 27 seconds left in the half.

Belt’s basket gave Eastern a 26-25 lead. TSU answered with a layup by Kenan Joyce as the half ended to take a 27-26 advantage into the halftime break.

The Texans started the second half scoring with a 3-pointer by Marcus Jacobs. A 3-pointer by Danny Jones with 16:50 remaining in the game completed TSU’s 12-4 run and put ENMU at a nine-point deficit.

ENMU cut the lead to 42-39 when Belt connected on a 3-pointer with 10:28 to go, but TSU answered by scoring the next five points. The Hounds got as close as two points, 49-47, at the 6:12 mark, on a layup by Johnson.

Tarleton State put in the next seven points. The Texans were aided in the run by three missed field goals by Eastern, plus a controversial charging foul on Belt and a technical foul on ENMU Head Coach Shawn Scanlan. One of Eastern’s missed shots was a 3-pointer by Johnson that would have cut the lead to one point with 5:21 left, but hit just enough of the rim to bounce out. At the 3:15 mark, the Texans held a 56-47 lead.

Cedric Palmer (Sr., F, Houston, TX/McLennan CC) scored and was fouled with 2:43 left. He converted the three-point play, then stole the ball from Vincent Bridgewater with 2:29 to go. Palmer dunked the ball with 2:21 left, as Eastern moved within four points of TSU, 56-52.

ENMU trimmed the lead to four points on a basket by Jamaal Hunnicutt (So., F, Amarillo, TX/Hill JC) with 1:54 to go, but Bridgewater made a dunk with 1:33 remaining. Brent Cooper (Jr., G, Mobile, AL/Faulkner State College) converted two free throws with 1:11 left, as ENMU cut the lead to 60-56.

The Greyhounds had a chance to reduce the lead to two points heading into the final minute after Cooper stole the ball with 1:07 remaining, but Garland Coleman (Jr., G/F, Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor HS) had his jumper blocked by Bridgewater at the 1:02 mark. Brandon Lee and Thomas each went two-for-two at the line in the final 13 seconds for TSU, as the Texans held off Eastern’s comeback efforts.

Jones led the Texans with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Thomas contributed 12 points, four boards and two blocks, while Bridgewater and Lee each tallied 10 points. Bridgewater also hauled down eight rebounds.

Eastern was paced by Palmer, who connected for a game-high 17 points on 6 of 10 field goals and 5 for 5 at the line. Hunnicutt tacked on 12 points and five assists, while earning four of Eastern’s 14 steals. Johnson scored 10 points to go with four rebounds.

Tarleton State achieved a 39-24 edge in rebounds to offset 21 turnovers, compared to just 12 turnovers by ENMU. The Texans also made 13 of 16 free throws, while the Greyhounds had just seven free throw attempts (7 of 7). TSU was 7 of 18 from 3-point range, and limited ENMU to 3 of 13 from behind the arc.

The Texans were 22 of 50 from the floor (44.0%), including 12 of 24 in the second half. ENMU hit 24 of 59 field goals (40.7%) during the game.