Javelinas Build 16-Point Halftime Lead, Defeat Hounds, 85-72
Hamilton Scores 23 for TAMUK, Wallace Nets 21 for ENMU

Box Score

KINGSVILLE, TEXAS — Senior forward Robert Hamilton scored 23 points and earned 17 rebounds to lead Texas A&M University-Kingsville to an 85-72 victory over Eastern New Mexico University, in a Lone Star Conference game, Jan. 29 at the Steinke Center. The Javelinas improved to 13-6 on the season, and remained in first place in the LSC South at 4-0. ENMU, which lost for the fourth game in a row, fell to 7-12 overall, 0-4 in the LSC South.

Hamilton connected on 10 of 18 field goals during the game. He scored 14 points and hauled down 10 boards in the first half, as TAMU-Kingsville built a 42-26 halftime lead. Eastern hit just 9 of 21 shots (42.9%) in the first half, while Kingsville, aided by nine offensive rebounds during the period, netted 18 of 38 attempts (47.4%).

The Javelinas earned just four offensive boards over the final 20 minutes, but shot 60.9% from the field (14 of 23). ENMU also improved its offensive success, as the Greyhounds put in 16 of 29 shots (55.2%) in the second half.

Reggie Wallace (Jr., G, Pasadena, CA/Mt. San Antonio College) led ENMU with a personal season-high of 21 points. He sank 8 of 13 field goals, including 1 of 2 three point shots, while grabbing three rebounds, and earning four assists and three steals. He played all 40 minutes. His previous high for ENMU was 19 points against Pittsburg State University (Kan.) in his first start for the Greyhounds on Dec. 18.

Senior forward Jamaal Hunnicutt (Amarillo, TX/Hill JC) added 19 points for Eastern. He also recorded five rebounds, four assists, three steals and a blocked shot. Hunnicutt is Eastern’s leading scorer this season with 319 points (16.8 avg.) and also leads the Hounds with 136 boards (7.2 avg.). He has scored 1,134 points during his career and is currently 15th on Eastern’s all-time scoring list. He needs 36 points to reach Wallace Williams (1983-85) in 14th place at 1,170.

The Javelinas and the Greyhounds were tied 7-7 just over three and a half minutes into the game, but Kingsville recorded the next eight points for a 15-7 advantage. Hamilton scored four points during the 8-0 run, as he hit two free throws and a layup.

Eastern got within 15-11 at the 11:56 mark, and trailed by just five points, 19-14, with 10:20 remaining in the half. The Hounds were unable to get closer, as TAMUK outscored ENMU 23-12 over the rest of the period.

Kingsville started the second half with a 9-3 run, as the Javelinas’ increased their lead to 22 points, 51-29, with 16:18 to play. The Greyhounds trailed 55-35 with 13:28 left, but Eastern scored six of the next seven points to get within 56-41 at the 10:55 mark. The mini-run included layups by Wallace, Hunnicutt and Chad Donnell (So., F, Frankston, TX/Frankston HS).

Eastern was able to reduce the lead to 13 points, 64-51, when Donnell scored on a jumper with 7:22 remaining, but didn’t get closer until a free throw by Aaron Rodriguez (So., G, Roswell, NM/Briar Cliff University) cut the lead to 79-68 with 1:16 to go.

Hamilton was one of five Javelinas in double figures. Quendale Allensworth scored 12 points and provided 10 assists and three steals. Chris White chipped in 11 points and was 5 of 8 from the field. Richard Gonzalez and Jerell Graves tallied 10 points each. Gonzalez also earned four rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Wallace and Hunnicutt were joined by Jolen Montoya (Jr., G, Cordova, NM/Neosho County CC) in double figures for ENMU. Montoya scored 10 points, including two of Eastern’s four 3-point baskets. He also earned four assists and two steals.

Donnell scored seven points to go with four rebounds. Rodriguez contributed six points, two assists and two steals, while Edmound Elzy (Sr., F, Victorville, CA/Barstow CC) scored six points and grabbed three rebounds.

The Hounds connected on 25 of 50 field goals (50.0%) during the game and sank 18 of 28 free throws. Kingsville made 32 of 61 shots from the floor (52.5%) and hit 15 of 18 free throws. The Javelinas also claimed a 37-24 rebounding margin.

Eastern New Mexico University will continue Lone Star Conference play with two home games next week. The Greyhounds will host Abilene Christian University on Thursday, Feb. 3, at 7:30 p.m. MST, before taking on Angelo State University on Saturday, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m. MST.