ENMU Falls to #16 NW Missouri, 90-82, As Bearcats End Game with 8-2 Run
Coleman, Hunnicutt Lead Six Greyhounds in Double Figures

MARYVILLE, MO - Eastern New Mexico University trailed 16th-ranked Northwest Missouri State University by a slim 82-80 margin with 1:48 left in the game, but the Bearcats closed out the contest with an 8-2 run, as NW Missouri defeated the Greyhounds, 90-82, in the championship game of the Ryland Milner Classic, on Saturday, Nov. 22. The Bearcats improved to 3-0 on the season, while ENMU dropped to 2-1.

Northwest Missouri, which reached the second round of the NCAA Division II Tournament last season before ending the season at 22-9, improved to 84-7 in its last 91 home games. The Bearcats have not lost at home since falling to Missouri Western, 64-59, on Feb. 2, 2002. ENMU, which won the LSC South title on its way to a 20-8 record in 2002-03, just missed qualifying for the NCAA Division II Tournament a year ago.

Austin Meyer led NW Missouri with a game-high 26 points on 11 of 18 field goals, including 4 of 8 on three-point shots. He was chosen MVP of the Ryland Milner Classic, and was joined on the All-Classic Team by Kelvin Parker and Byron Jackson of NWMSU, as well as Jamaal Hunnicutt (Jr., F, Amarillo, TX/Hill JC) of ENMU, Terrance Dopson of Rockhurst University, and Ryan Menten of Warner Southern College.

Parker added 22 points for the Bearcats and was 8 of 15 from the field. He also earned six assists and two steals. Jackson contributed 15 points and six rebounds, while Jesse Shaw hit the nets for 10 points and provided five steals. Sky Wilson scored nine points and dished out six assists. The Bearcats committed just 16 fouls, had only nine turnovers, and claimed a 13-4 margin in steals.

ENMU shot 63.0% for the game, after converting 17 of 27 shots in each half. The Hounds made 6 of 12 three-pointers, but were whistled for 21 fouls and made 20 turnovers. Eastern was 8 of 9 at the free throws stripe. NW Missouri hit 14 of 20 free throws.

The Greyhounds placed six players in double figures led by Hunnicutt and Garland Coleman (Sr., G/F, Chicago, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor HS), with 16 points each. Edmound Elzy (Jr., F, Victorville, CA/Barstow CC) and Jamal Washington (Jr., G, Ontario, CA/Victor Valley College) each tallied 12 points, while Irshaun Pinckney (Jr., G, Clovis, NM/Clovis HS) and Kennis Green (Jr., F, Houston, TX/Blinn College) scored 11 points apiece. Hunnicutt led the Greyhounds with seven rebounds and six assists, while Coleman was 7 for 7 on field goals and 2 for 2 at the line.

NW Missouri led 7-2 early in the game, and held a 24-20 lead with 10:56 left in the first half. The Bearcats scored the next six points for a 30-20 advantage, but Eastern erased the margin with a 13-0 run for a 33-30 lead at the 5:06 mark.

NWMSU eventually tied the score, 39-39, at the 1:20 mark on a basket and foul shot by Parker. Washington gave ENMU a 41-39 halftime lead by hitting a jumper with 10 seconds left.

The second half featured five ties and five lead changes. Eastern led by four points two times early in the second half, and NW Missouri never trailed after taking a 52-50 lead on a fast-break basket by Wilson with 15:55 remaining. Even so, the score was tied four times later in the period, including 67-67 with 8:45 to go.

A 10-4 run put the Bearcats in front 77-71 at the 3:44 mark. NW Missouri also led by six points, 80-74, with 3:20 left. The Greyhounds, on a 3-pointer by Washington, a free throw by Elzy and a basket by Coleman, scored six of the next eight points, to cut the lead to 82-80 with 1:48 on the clock.

Jackson made a layup at the 1:17 mark, and Parker tacked on a free throw with 43 seconds left. Two free throws by Wilson and one by Jackson increased the Bearcats' advantage to 88-80. Brent Cooper (Sr., G, Mobile, AL/Faulkner State College) made a layup for Eastern with 0:13 left, but Parker completed the scoring two seconds later, when he sank two free throws.

ENMU returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 29, when the Greyhounds will take on NCAA Division I opponent New Mexico State University. Game time at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, N.M. is set for 7:05 p.m. NMSU defeated New Mexico Highlands University, 89-69, on Saturday, Nov. 22, in the Aggies' regular season opener.