Greyhounds Fall to Bulldogs, 51-49, On Three-Pointer with Four Seconds Left

WEATHERFORD, OK — Eastern New Mexico University came within seconds of extending its eight-game winning streak, but Cer Edwards of Southwestern Oklahoma State University sank a 3-point shot with four seconds remaining to give the Bulldogs a 51-49 win over the Greyhounds, in a Lone Star Conference crossover game on Saturday, Jan. 10. ENMU dropped to 10-4 on the season, while SW Oklahoma improved to 10-4.

Eastern ended the game with a 5-1 record in crossover games this season. The Hounds will play their final crossover game of 2003-04 on Thursday, Jan. 15, when they host defending LSC North champion Tarleton State University at 7:30 p.m. at Greyhound Arena. Crossover games do not count in the LSC divisional standings. ENMU won the LSC South title last season, but fell to TSU, 64-58, in the semifinals of the LSC Tournament.

In Saturday’s game at SW Oklahoma, the Greyhounds took a 49-48 lead when junior forward Jamaal Hunnicutt (Amarillo, TX/Hill JC) scored on a layup with 2:32 remaining. Neither team scored again until Edwards’ winning shot on an assist from Lee J. Kirkpatrick.

The game opened with a 6-0 run for the Bulldogs. ENMU put its first points on the board with 15:58 left in the first half, and added just one free throw over the next 4:14, as SWOSU increased its lead to 11-3.

Eastern also trailed 12-5, before the Greyhounds ran off 10 straight points for 15-12 lead at the 6:50 mark. The 10-0 run started with a 3-pointer by Jamal Washington (Jr., F, Ontario, CA/Victor Valley College). Edmound Elzy (Jr., F, Victorville, CA/Barstow CC) added another 3-point shot with 7:53 on the clock, as Eastern pulled within one point. Brent Cooper (Sr., G, Mobile, AL/ Faulkner State College) and Travazz Buckley (Jr., F, Slidell, LA/Faulkner State College) each tacked on a steal and a layup to complete the run.

The Bulldogs regained the lead on a 3-pointer by Edwards — his only basket prior to the game-winning shot — and led 23-17 with 1:04 left in the period on a layup by Kirkpatrick. ENMU recorded the final six points of the half, ultimately tying the score on a 3-pointer by Elzy with seven seconds remaining.

Eastern opened the second half with a 13-4 run to create a 36-27 lead with 15:11 left. Junior forward Kennis Green (Houston, TX/Blinn College) hit two 3-pointers during the run, while Hunnicutt provided four points on two baskets.

SW Oklahoma trailed 38-30 at the 13:15 mark, but tallied the next eight points. SWOSU’s run included two 3-pointers by Marcel Justin, including the tying shot with 9:54 to go.

The score was close the rest of the way, although the Bulldogs managed to build a four-point lead twice. SW Oklahoma led 47-43 following a layup by Kirkpatrick at the 6:03 mark, and later earned a 48-44 lead, when Marc Walters sank the first of two free throws with 4:56 left. The Bulldogs did not score again until Edwards’ three-pointer in the closing seconds.

ENMU cut the lead to a single point when Elzy rebounded Walters’ second free throw, then hit a 3-pointer at the other end of the court 10 seconds later. Both teams struggled to score over the remainder of the game, as SWOSU missed two free throws and a jump shot, and the Hounds missed a three-pointer, two of three two-pointers and a free throw. Hunnicutt’s layup with 2:32 left provided the only points for either team during the next 4:42.

Hunnicutt led the Greyhounds with 14 points and six rebounds. He was 6 of 11 from the field, but hit just 2 of 5 free throws. ENMU was 5 of 13 at the line overall.

Elzy finished the game with nine points and five boards. He was 3 of 4 on field goals, with all four attempts launched from behind the 3-point arc. Green added seven points for ENMU, while Washington and Garland Coleman (Sr., G, Chicago, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor HS) each contributed six points. Cooper was credited with four assists and two steals.

The Greyhounds shot just 38.8% for the game (19 of 49), including 6 of 16 three-pointers (37.5%). SW Oklahoma was 19 of 39 from the floor (48.7%), including 11 of 19 (57.9%) in the second half. SWOSU connected on 6 of 15 three-pointers (40.0%) and 7 of 14 free throws.

SWOSU also achieved a 33-28 rebounding edge. The Bulldogs lost the ball 17 times, as Eastern registered 13 steals. The Greyhounds committed 14 turnovers.

Kirkpatrick was the leading scorer for SW Oklahoma. He did not start, but scored 16 points and made 8 of 9 field goals. He grabbed six rebounds, earned two assists and blocked two shots. Justin added 11 points and seven boards, and hit 3 of 5 three-point attempts. Jamaal Shell chipped in 11 points, two assists and three steals.

Eastern does not play again until the Greyhounds host Tarleton State on Jan. 15. ENMU will then play its first two LSC South games of the season at Texas A&M University-Commerce on Jan. 22 (7 p.m. MST) and at Texas A&M University-Kingsville on Jan. 24 (3 p.m. MST). Last year, the Hounds went 11-1 in South Division games.