Greyhounds Battle 3rd-Ranked Tarleton State Into Final Minute Before Falling, 72-69

PORTALES, NM — The Eastern New Mexico University Greyhounds battled Tarleton State University, ranked #3 in NCAA Division II, into the final minute of play, but fell to the Texans, 72-69, Jan. 15, in a Lone Star Conference crossover game at Greyhound Arena. TSU upped its record to 12-2. ENMU fell to 10-5 with the loss.

Eastern led 61-58 with 5:17 remaining, before Tarleton State closed the game with a 14-8 run. The Texans moved into the lead, 62-61, when Tim Burnette sank two free throws with 4:04 left. TSU extended the lead to 65-61 by completing a 7-0 run, with Brandon Lee scoring on a layup at the 3:34 mark and later adding one of two free throws, with 3:02 to go.

The Greyhounds answered with a 5-2 run that cut the deficit to a single point. Irshaun Pinckney (Jr., G, Clovis, NM/Clovis HS) made two free throws with 1:34 left to pull the Hounds within 65-63. Tierrius Thomas scored for TSU with 1:19 left, but Kennis Green (Jr., F, Houston, TX/Blinn College) hit a 3-pointer for ENMU at the 1:04 mark to reduce the lead to 67-66.

On Tarleton State’s next possession, Thomas scored on a layup and was fouled. He sank the free throw, giving the Texans a 70-66 advantage. Chris Williams made one of two free throws for TSU with 17 seconds left, and Burnette hit one of two charity shots with nine seconds on the clock. ENMU closed out the scoring on a 3-pointer by Edmound Elzy (Jr., F, Victorville, CA/Barstow CC) just before time expired.

TSU placed all five starters in double figures, led by Burnette, who scored 16 points. Williams, Lee and David Stephens each scored 11 points, while Kris Howell chipped in 10 points. Thomas finished with nine points for the Texans.

The Greyhounds received 17 points form Green, who hit 7 of 12 field goals, including 3 of 5 three-pointers. Jamaal Hunnicutt (Jr., F, Amarillo, TX/Hill JC) tacked on 11 points and converted 7 of 7 free throws. Garland Coleman (Sr., G, Chicago, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor HS) scored 10 points on 5 of 9 field goals. Brent Cooper (Sr., G, Mobile, AL/Faulkner State College) ended the game with nine points, while Pinckney tallied eight points.

ENMU shot 46.0% (23 of 50) for the game and limited TSU to 37.9% (25 of 66), but the Texans concluded the night with 16 more field goals attempts. Tarleton State gained the edge in possessions by grabbing 21 offensive rebounds and forcing 23 turnovers. ENMU had 11 offensive rebounds, while the Texans committed just 16 turnovers.

Both teams shot well at the foul line, with TSU converting 19 of 24 free throws (79.2%) and ENMU connecting on 18 of 22 free throws (81.8%). The Greyhounds sank 5 of 12 three-pointers (41.7%). Tarleton State made just 3 of 15 shots from behind the arc (20.0%).

Stephens of TSU led all players with 11 rebounds, including nine from the offensive glass. Howell and Burnette each hauled down six boards for the Texans. Burnette also registered five assists and three steals, while Lee achieved three assists and three steals.

For ENMU, Hunnicutt recorded nine rebounds and Coleman contributed six rebounds. The Hounds also benefited from six assists by Cooper and four steals by Green. Jamal Washington (Jr., G, Ontario, CA/Victor Valley College) grabbed nine rebounds. Hunnicutt had four assists.

The first half featured seven ties and 11 lead changes. Tarleton State owned the largest lead of the half at 21-15 with 10:16 remaining in the period. ENMU eventually moved in front, 26-25, on two free throws by Cooper at the 5:32 mark. Cooper’s free throws were part of an 8-0 run that gave Eastern its biggest lead of the first 20 minutes, 30-25, with 4:00 left in the half. Coleman scored the final points of the run on a dunk following a steal by Green.

TSU countered with the next six points for a 31-30 advantage. ENMU moved back in front, 32-31, on a layup by Washington with 1:05 to go, but Burnette scored the final points of the half on a jumper with 42 seconds left, as TSU took a 33-32 lead.

The Greyhounds led by five points twice in the second half, at 57-52 with 7:58 remaining and at 59-54 with 6:37 to go. Burnette and Howell each scored a basket for TSU to reduce the lead to 59-58, before Hunnicutt made two free throws for the Hounds at the 5:17 mark to give ENMU a 61-58 advantage.

Eastern does not play again until Thursday, Jan. 22, at Texas A&M University-Commerce. Game time in Commerce, Texas, is scheduled for 7 p.m. (MST). The Greyhounds will complete a two-game road trip at Texas A&M University-Kingsville on Saturday, Jan. 24. Tip-off at TAMUK is set for 3 p.m. (MST).

The games at Commerce and Kingsville will open LSC South action for the Greyhounds. ENMU won last year’s LSC South title with an 11-1 record in conference play.