Javelinas Take Advantage of Home Court, Defeat Greyhounds, 77-69, in LSC South Game
Hunnicutt Earns 16 Points, 11 Boards for ENMU

KINGSVILLE, TX — Texas A&M University-Kingsville forced 21 turnovers by the visiting Greyhounds of Eastern New Mexico University, as the Javelinas extended their winning streak to five games with 77-69 win in Lone Star Conference action on Saturday, Jan. 24. The last three TAMUK victories have occurred at the Steinke Center against LSC South opponents, allowing the Javelinas to improve to 12-6 overall, while starting 3-0 in the division. ENMU, ranked #5 in the South Central Region, fell to 11-6 on the season and to 1-1 in the LSC South. Kingsville started the game hot on offense, as the Javelinas scored on six of their first eight shots for a 13-0 lead. ENMU had four turnovers and two missed shots on its first six possessions.

After falling behind by 13 points in the first 3:17, the Greyhounds answered by scoring the next seven points. Eastern’s first four points were scored by Travazz Buckley (Jr., F, Slidell, LA/Faulkner State College) on two free throws and a dunk. The next three points were supplied by Jamaal Hunnicutt (Jr., F, Amarillo, TX/Hill JC) on a layup and foul shot with 14:09 left in the half.

The 7-0 run was ended when Robert Hamilton of Kingsville scored on a layup at the 13:33 mark. Eastern tallied the next four points as part of a 10-3 run to cut the lead to 18-17 with 10:01 remaining in the half. The run featured six points by Irshaun Pinckney (Jr., G, Clovis, NM/Clovis HS). TAMU-Kingsville retained the lead for the rest of the period, but led just 32-30 at halftime, after Jamal Washington (Jr., G, Ontario, CA/Victor Valley College) put in a layup with 36 seconds left.

Eastern tied the game twice early in the second half, but the Javelinas launched a 14-2 run, including two 3-pointers by Richard Gonzalez, for a 48-36 advantage with 13:29 remaining. Hunnicutt and Washington each scored for ENMU to cut the lead to eight points, but Gonzalez recorded the next six points on two more 3-pointers, as Kingsville took a 54-40 lead.

ENMU pulled back within eight points with 2:50 remaining, on a basket by Hunnicutt, but did not get closer until the 29-second mark, when Hunnicutt pulled the Hounds within seven at 74-67. William Brown made 1 of 2 free throws for TAMUK three seconds later and added two charity shots with 14 seconds remaining. Hunnicutt scored the game’s final basket with four seconds left.

Brown led all players with 23 points. He was 8 of 12 from the field and converted 6 of 7 free throws. He also provided the Javelinas with four rebounds and four points. Gonzalez tacked on 15 points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists. Robert Hamilton also scored 15 points for Kingsville, while grabbing five rebounds and blocking two shots. Jamie Barnett finished the game with 14 points and a team-high seven boards.

The Greyhounds placed four players in double figures. Hunnicutt’s 16-point effort was supported by 14 points each from Washington and Pinckney, plus a 12-point performance from Kennis Green (Jr., F, Houston, TX/Blinn College).

Hunnicutt’s 11 rebounds led all players on both teams. Pinckney added seven boards and Washington supplied six, as the Greyhounds achieved a 41-29 rebounding edge. The Javelinas offset the rebounding deficit by committing just 11 turnovers.

TAMUK connected on 28 of 58 shots (48.3%), including 55.6% in the second half, when the Javelinas sank 15 of 27 field goals. The Greyhounds shot 44.6% overall (25 of 56), and made 14 of 29 attempts (48.3%) in the second half. Kingsville was 6 of 14 from 3-point range and 15 of 24 at the line. Eastern converted 4 of 11 three-pointers and put in 15 of 19 free throws.

The Hounds, who have played just five of 17 games at home this season, will play six of the next eight at Greyhound Arena. Eastern has three consecutive home games, starting on Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m. (MST) against Abilene Christian University. The Greyhounds will take on Angelo State University on Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. (MST), before playing West Texas A&M University on Feb. 2 at 7:30 p.m. (MST).

All three games are against LSC South opponents. Eastern New Mexico University is the defending LSC South champion.