Hounds Rally from 10-Point Deficit in Final 5:00 for 67-63 Win over Rockhurst University
ENMU Will Take on Host NW Missouri State in Championship Game of Ryland Milner Classic

MARYVILLE, MO - Eastern New Mexico University overcame a 10-point deficit in the final five minutes to defeat Rockhurst University (Missouri), 67-63, on Friday, Nov. 21, and move into the championship game of the Ryland Milner Classic at Northwest Missouri State University. ENMU will take on host NW Missouri for the tournament title on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m. (MST). NW Missouri defeated Warner Southern College, 78-61, in the other first round game.

ENMU, which competes in the Lone Star Conference and NCAA Division II, improved to 2-0 on the season. The Greyhound were 20-8 in 2002-03. Rockhurst, which was 17-11 in NCAA Division II last year, after a lengthy history of success in the NAIA, fell to 0-3. The Hawks are members of the Heartland Conference.

Rockhurst led 59-49 following a three-pointer by Mike Day with 6:26 remaining. The score remained the same until 4:52 was left on the clock, when Kennis Green (Jr., F, Houston, TX/Blinn College) sank a 3-pointer for the Hounds.

Green added a layup with 4:14 left, and put in another basket with 3:31 remaining, as ENMU cut the deficit to 59-56. Joel Sobanski of Rockhurst tacked on a 3-pointer with 3:22 to go, giving the Hawks a six-point cushion. Brent Cooper (Sr., G, Mobile, AL/Faulkner State College) cut the lead in half with a 3-point basket at the 2:59 mark.

Almost a minute and a half came off the clock before the next basket. Jamaal Hunnicutt (Jr., F, Amarillo, TX/Hill JC) of Eastern scored in the lane and was fouled with 1:31 left. He converted the free throw to tie the game at 62-62.

The Hounds fell behind by a single point when Terrance Dopson hit the first of two charity shots for the Hawks with 1:09 remaining. ENMU then took the lead for good with 59 seconds left, 64-63, on a basket by Garland Coleman (Sr., G/F, Chicago, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor HS). Eastern shut out Rockhurst the rest of the way, while Cooper, Hunnicutt and Coleman each hit one of two free throws in the final 37 seconds. Coleman sealed the win by hitting the second of two shots with 0:02 on the clock.

Rockhurst trailed 2-0 and 4-3 in the first two minutes of the game, but hit three 3-pointers and shot 54.2% (13 of 24) in the first half. The Hawks led 28-16 with 5:21 remaining in the first period, but saw the lead dwindle to three points on a 11-2 run by ENMU. Rockhurst closed the stanza with a 32-27 lead after Day scored the final bucket of the half with 1:02 remaining.

The Hawks remained in front until Eastern's final charge. Rockhurst increased its lead to nine points, 48-39, after a 3-pointer by Parker McKee with 11:49 to go, but ENMU reduced the margin to 48-45 on a basket by Irshaun Pinckney (Jr., G, Clovis, NM/Clovis HS). The Hawks scored 11 of the next 15 points to build the 10-point lead Eastern erased in the final minutes.

Rockhurst made 9 of 17 three-pointers, including 6 of 9 in the second half. Even so, the Hawks shot just 35.5% (11 of 31) during the final 20 minutes. ENMU, which hit just 34.3% (12 of 35) in the opening stanza, improved to 48.3% (14 of 29) in the second half. The Hounds managed just three 3-point baskets (on 12 attempts), but hit two in the game-winning rally.

Pinckney scored 16 points and converted 7 of 14 shots from the floor to lead four players in double figures for ENMU. Hunnicutt added 14 points, nine rebounds, three steals, three blocks and two assists in 36 minutes. He was 3 of 8 on field goals, but hit 8 of 11 free throws.

Cooper and Green each added 12 points for the Greyhounds. Cooper also achieved three rebounds, three steals and three assists, while Green contributed three boards and one assist. Coleman scored nine points, and provided the Hounds with seven rebounds, four steals and three assists. ENMU committed just 14 turnovers, while earning 11 steals on 22 miscues by Rockhurst.

The leading scorer for the Hawks was Dopson, who chipped in a game-high 20 points on 6 of 11 shooting (2 for 4 three-pointers) and 6 of 8 at the line. He also had seven rebounds, two steals and one assist in 38 minutes played. McKee was the only other Rockhurst player in double figures, as he scored 11 points to go with three assists and two steals. Day contributed eight points, six boards and six assists.