Greyhounds End Game with 8-0 Run
in 85-77 Victory over Abilene Christian
Montoya Scores Go-Ahead Jumper with 1:02 Left

Box Score

PORTALES, N.M. — Eastern New Mexico University scored the final eight points of the game to break a 77-77 tie, as the Greyhounds defeated Abilene Christian University, 85 77, in Lone Star Conference action on Thursday, Feb. 10. Jolen Montoya (Jr., G, Cordova, NM/Neosho County CC) scored the go-ahead basket on a jump shot with 1:02 remaining. ENMU improved to 9-13 overall, 2-5 in the LSC South. Abilene Christian, 8-15 overall, continued to hold last place in the LSC South after the Wildcats fell to 1-7 in the division.

Jamaal Hunnicutt (Sr., F, Amarillo, TX/Hill JC), who led the Hounds with 20 points and 17 rebounds, grabbed three boards and converted 4 of 4 free throws in the final 42 seconds. Reggie Wallace (Jr., G, Pasdena, CA/Mt. San Antonio College) scored the final two points of the game on a pair of free throws with 16 seconds left. Eastern converted 23 of 31 free throws (74.2%) on the night, including 10 of 13 by Hunnicutt.

Eastern led 38-34 at halftime, and the Greyhounds scored the first basket of the second half on a layup by Chad Donnell (So., F, Frankston, TX/Frankston HS). Neither team led by more than five points again until the final minute.

In fact, the second half featured seven ties and eight lead changes. The biggest lead between Donnell’s basket and Montoya’s final go-ahead score was 54-49 for ENMU with 12:33 remaining. ACU held a 74-72 advantage following a free throw by Adrian Scott with 3:17 to go, but the Wildcats never moved back in front.

Wallace cut the margin to a single point with a free throw at the 3:04 mark, and Hunnicutt gave the Hounds a 75-74 lead on two free throws with 2:26 remaining. Mauro Matai sank one free throw with 2:17 left to tie the game again, but Montoya scored on a layup for ENMU with 1:38 on the clock. Hakim Rasul made a pair of charity shots for the Wildcats 10 seconds later to tie the game for the final time. Montoya’s jumper with 1:02 left started Eastern’s decisive 8-0 run.

Hunnicutt grabbed three rebounds in the final minutes on missed shots by Abilene Christian. The first two times — with 42 seconds and 27 seconds left — Hunnicutt was fouled. The third time, Hunnicutt distributed the ball to Wallace, who was fouled. Eastern’s 6-for-6 performance at the line in the final minute helped clinch the win.

The double-double by Hunnicutt led Eastern’s attack, but four other Greyhounds also found their way into double figures. Wallace scored 15 points, to go with four rebounds, five assists, five steals and just one turnover in 39 minutes played. Montoya tacked on 13 points and four assists. Irshaun Pinckney (Sr., G, Clovis, NM/Clovis HS) scored 12 points and grabbed six boards in his first action since sustaining a leg injury against Northeastern State University on Jan. 8. Donnell tallied 12 points, hit 5 of 7 field goals and earned three steals.

Rasul, who scored 30 points in ACU’s 89-72 loss at ENMU a week ago (Feb. 3), recorded 29 points in the rematch. He tied Hunnicutt for the game high with 17 rebounds, and went 11 of 22 on field goals. He also blocked six shots, earned two assists and registered one steal.

David Baxter tacked on 17 points, while Matai finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots. Joe Carr led all players with six assists, to go with five points and six boards. Carr also committed eight of Abilene’s 23 turnovers and was one of three Wildcats to foul out.

ACU achieved a 48-39 rebounding edge, but ENMU claimed a big margin in turnovers, as the Greyhounds lost the ball just 11 times. Eastern accumulated 14 steals, led by Wallace’s five.

Eastern shot 42.0% from the field (29 of 69) and ACU shot 42.2% (27 of 64). Abilene, however, did not shoot as well at the line, where the Wildcats converted just 19 of 29 free throw attempts (65.5%). ACU was called for 28 fouls compared to 18 against ENMU.

The Greyhounds will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 12, when they are scheduled to play at Angelo State University. Game time in San Angelo, Texas, is set for 7 p.m. MST. The Rams connected on 12 of 26 three-pointers on their way to an 80-76 win over Eastern at Greyhound Arena on Feb. 5.