Cameron Overcomes Late Charge by Hounds
Aggies Remain Undefeated with 80-74 Win

Box Score

PORTALES, N.M. — Eastern New Mexico University struggled for much of its Lone Star Conference crossover game against Cameron University at Greyhound Arena on Dec. 2, but the Greyhounds scored 15 unanswered points to overcome a 62-47 deficit, and eventually led 65-64. Cameron regained the lead in the closing minutes and held on for an 80-74 win. The victory allowed the Aggies to stay undefeated at 6-0, while the Hounds dropped to 2-3.

Cameron used strong shooting in the first half — hitting 53.1% from the field and 46.7% from three-point range — to take a 41-35 lead at the intermission. The Aggies were 17 of 32 on field goals and 7 of 15 on 3-pointers during the half. Eastern nearly kept up with the pace, as the Hounds converted 15 of 30 field goals (50.0%), including 5 of 9 (55.6%) on three-pointers.

The Hounds scored the first basket of the second half on a layup by Daniel Sherman (Jr., F, Chino Hills, CA/Mt. San Antonio College) to get within 41-37, and trailed by just five points, 45-40, with 16:58 left following a 3-pointer by Billy Austin (Jr., G, Hobbs, NM/Eastern Wyoming CC). The Aggies, however, reeled off the next five points to begin a 12-1 run on their way to a 57-41 lead at the 11:57 mark.

Cameron took a 62-47 lead with 8:58 remaining, on a jumper by Kalaan Brown. The Hounds then held the Aggies scoreless until the 4:47 mark, when a jumper by Arthur Trousdell broke Eastern’s 15-0 run and gave CU a 64-62 lead. The rally included a 3-pointer by Jolen Montoya (Jr., G, Cordova, NM/Neosho County CC) to start the run and 10 points by Jamaal Hunnicutt (Sr., F, Amarillo, TX/Hill JC). Hunnicutt converted two three-point plays during the rally, and completed the run with back-to-back layups to tie the score at 62-62 with 5:36 on the clock.

After Trousdell broke the run and gave Cameron a 64-62 lead, the Greyhounds took their first lead since early in the game when Jason Breland (Jr., G, Los Angeles, CA/Mt. San Antonio College) sank a 3-pointer with 4:18 to go.

The score was tied twice, including 67-67, before Cameron moved in front for good on a jumper by Trousdell. Hunnicutt missed a layup with 3:00 left that would have tied the game, then Bam Harmon tacked on two free throws, as CU took a 71-67 lead with 2:30 remaining. The lead eventually reached 74-67, on two free throws by Trousdell at the 1:20 mark.

Eastern made one final rally, starting with a layup by Hunnicutt with just under a minute to go. Wallace added two free throws with 51 seconds on the clock to cut the lead to 74-71, but Eric Moore hit two free throws for Cameron five seconds later. Eastern got within three points two more times, including 77-74 when Wallace converted a free throw with 22 seconds remaining, but Moore made two charity shots for the Aggies at the 17-second mark to secure the win.

Hunnicutt, who had six points at the half, added 16 points over the final 20 minutes to lead ENMU with 22 points on the night. He was 9 of 15 from the floor and 4 for 4 at the line. He also added 10 rebounds and an assist.

Montoya added 14 points for the Greyhounds. After scoring 11 points in the first half, he had just one basket in the second period — the three-pointer that started Eastern’s 15-0 run. Montoya was 5 of 8 on field goals, including 4 of 6 on three-pointers. He earned five assists and recorded four steals.

Edmound Elzy (Sr., F, Victorville, CA/Barstow CC) tallied nine points, while Sherman scored eight points and contributed six rebounds before leaving the game with an ankle injury midway through the second half. Austin scored seven points, and provided seven assists, blocked one shot and recorded one steal.

Cameron received 22 points from Moore and 19 from Harmon. Moore was 6 of 9 on field goals, and made 3 of 4 three-pointers. He also converted 7 of 9 free throws. Harmon added four rebounds, four assists and four steals. Trousdell was 6 of 12 from the field and 2 for 2 at the line, on his way to 14 points. He also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. Marcus Girtmon supplied eight points, three boards, three assists and three steals.

Both teams connected on 28 of 55 shots during the game (50.9%), with Cameron making 8 of 20 three-pointers (1 of 5 in the second half), and Eastern converting 8 of 15 three-pointers (53.3%). The Aggies gained an edge at the charity stripe, as CU made 16 of 24 free throws, while ENMU hit 10 of 14. Eastern outrebounded Cameron, 31-27, but committed 24 turnovers to just 18 for the Aggies.

ENMU remains at home on Saturday, Dec. 4, to take on another undefeated team from the LSC North. The Greyhounds and the Bulldogs of Southwestern Oklahoma State University (7-0) will play at 4 p.m. MST. The Bulldogs defeated West Texas A&M University, 53-50, on Dec. 2.