SE Oklahoma Defeats Injury Depleted Greyhounds
Hunnicutt Scores 18 Points, Grabs Six Rebounds for ENMU

Box Score

PORTALES, N.M. — Southeastern Oklahoma State University shot 60.7% (17 of 28) in the second half to extend a 10-point halftime lead, as the Savages defeated the injury depleted Greyhounds of Eastern New Mexico University, 84-62, on Thursday, Jan. 13, in a Lone Star Conference crossover game. SE Oklahoma improved to 10-4, while ENMU dropped to 6-8.

ENMU began the season with Mikal Monette (Jr., F, Albuquerque, NM/University of New Mexico) out for the year with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The Greyhounds faced SE Oklahoma with two other key players missing due to injuries. Daniel Sherman (Jr., F, Chino Hills, CA/Mt. San Antonio College) was out with a back injury and Irshaun Pinckney (Sr., G, Clovis, NM/Clovis HS) missed the game with a leg injury just above the ankle.

The Greyhounds, playing with just seven healthy scholarship players, were led by Jamaal Hunnicutt (Sr., F, Amarillo, TX/Hill JC), who scored 18 points to go with six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Hunnicutt scored 12 points in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to stop SE Oklahoma from pulling away.

Eastern held a 5-4 lead at the 16:00 mark of the first half, following a 3-pointer by Reggie Wallace (Jr., G, Pasadena, CA/Mt. San Antonio College). SE Oklahoma scored the next six points, but the Greyhounds kept the game close for most of the half. ENMU trailed 21-19 with 7:01 left and was behind by just four points, 25-21, with 4:31 on the clock.

The Savages, however, went on a 12-3 run for a 37-24 lead. Clint Baker completed the run when he put in a layup with seven seconds left in the half. Chad Donnell (So., F, Frankston, TX/ Frankston HS) reduced the margin to 10 points when he buried a 3 pointer at the buzzer.

Jason Stampley of SE Oklahoma, who had just eight points at the break, poured in 20 points in the second half to lead all players with 28 points for the game. He was 8 of 14 from the field, including 7 of 12 on three-point shots.

A 6-2 run by the Savages, including four points by Stampley, gave SOSU a 43-29 lead with 16:34 to go, and the Greyhounds never got within 10 points the rest of the way. The advantage for SE Oklahoma reached 20 points, 55-35, at the 10:24 mark, on a layup by Eric Babers.

Stampley led four Savages in double figures. Babers contributed 16 points, while Baker and Robert Aitken provided 10 points each. Jeremy Brown and Chris Valliere scored eight points apiece. Brown topped all players with 11 rebounds. Babers registered nine rebounds and four assists. Stampley, Baker and Steve Harrel each tacked on four assists.

The battle on the glass ended in a 38-38 tie, but SE Oklahoma blocked seven ENMU shots, while the Greyhounds did not block a single attempt by the Savages. SE Oklahoma also recorded an edge in turnovers, as ENMU lost the ball 20 times, compared to 14 turnovers for SOSU.

Hunnicutt scored his 18 points on 7 of 13 shooting from the floor and a 4-for-6 performance at the line. He was followed by Wallace, who tallied 13 points and was 3 of 6 on 3-point shots. No one else reached doubled figures for ENMU, but Jolen Montoya (Jr., G, Cordova, NM/Neosho County CC) added nine points, three assists and two steals. Edmound Elzy (Sr., F, Victorville, CA/Barstow CC) earned eight points to go with five rebounds.

Jamaal Washington (Sr., G, Pomona, CA/Victor Valley College) produced just four points, but hauled down a team-high 10 rebounds. He also led the Greyhounds with five assists.

The Greyhounds shot 32.3% in the first half (10 of 31) and 39.4% in the second half (13 of 33). ENMU was 7 of 19 on 3-pointers (36.8%) and 9 of 16 at the free throw line (56.3%). The Savages connected on 50.8% of their field goals (31 of 61) during the game, including 10 of 19 attempts beyond the 3-point line. The Savages were 12 of 17 on free throws.

ENMU remains on the road to take on East Central University on Saturday, Jan. 15. Game time in Ada, Okla. is set for 3 p.m. MST.