Greyhounds Hold off UCO for 66-63 Win
ENMU Leads 15-0 and 21-5; Wallace Hits Two Free Throws with 0:13 Left to Seal Win

Box Score

PORTALES, N.M. — Eastern New Mexico University slowed the high-powered offense from the University of Central Oklahoma, as the Greyhounds defeated the Bronchos, 66 63, in a Lone Star Conference crossover game at Greyhound Arena on Thursday, Jan. 6. ENMU surged out to leads of 15-0 and 21-5, but had to hold off UCO in the final minutes. Eastern led 33-27 at halftime.

The Greyhounds were in front 53-39 with 10:02 remaining in the game, before the Bronchos pulled within two points five times in the final 4:01. UCO cut the lead to a single point on the fifth try, 64-63, when B.J. Raney hit a free throw with 19 seconds left.

Eastern's Reggie Wallace (Jr., G, Pasadena, CA/Mt. San Antonio College) hit nothing but net on two free throws with 13 seconds on the clock to give the Hounds a 66-63 advantage. Jamaal Hunnicutt (Sr., F, Amarillo, TX/Hill JC), who led ENMU with 18 points and 7 rebounds, clinched the win by blocking Sam Belt's 26-foot three-point attempt with one second left. Hunnicutt also recorded four assists, blocked three shots and earned three steals on the night.

ENMU improved to 5-7 with the win. UCO fell to 8-4 with the loss. The Hounds are at home again on Saturday, Jan. 8, when they host Northeastern State University at 4 p.m. MST.

Central Oklahoma missed its first nine shots, while ENMU opened the game 6 of 8 from the floor. Eastern’s advantage reached 21-5 on a 3-pointer by Edmound Elzy (Sr., F, Victorville, CA/ Barstow CC) with 11:59 remaining in the opening half. The Greyhounds were in front 28-14 at the 7:58 mark, following a jumper by Irshaun Pinckney (Sr., G, Clovis, NM/Clovis HS).

The Hounds didn’t score again until the 4:29 mark, when Hunnicutt converted a free throw for a 29-18 lead. UCO scored the next seven points to pull within 29-25 with 2:38 left in the half. Deshone Henderson, who entered the game averaging a team-high 15.7 points, scored five points during the 7-0 run.

UCO recorded the first four points of the second half to get within 33-31 at the 18:19 mark. ENMU countered with an 8-0 run for a 41-31 margin, following a three-point play by Hunnicutt with 16:18 to go. The Hounds eventually led by 12 points with 13:13 left, and owned a 53-39 margin after a pair of free throws by Elzy at the 10:02 mark.

Eight unanswered points allowed the Bronchos to reduce the lead to 53-47 with 7:35 left, and two free throws by Terry McVay trimmed the lead to 57-55 with 4:01 remaining. ENMU never lost the lead, as Billy Austin (Jr., G, Hobbs, NM/Eastern Wyoming College) scored one point and four Greyhounds provided two points each the rest of the way.

Hunnicutt was joined in double figures by Pinckney, with 11 points — all in the first half — and by Elzy, who contributed 10 points. Henderson scored a game-high 19 points to lead Central Oklahoma. Raney added 10 points for the Bronchos.

Central Oklahoma achieved a 40-33 rebounding margin, as Belt grabbed nine boards and Henderson registered seven. The Bronchos forced the Greyhounds into 28 turnovers. UCO lost the ball 21 times, but still had 66 field goals attempts to just 42 for ENMU.

The Hounds overcame the rebounding and turnover deficits by shooting 47.6% for the game (20 of 42), while holding the Bronchos to 31.8% (21 of 66). Eastern also made 21 of 31 free throws (67.7%), while UCO hit just 16 of 26 charity shots (61.5%).

Eastern also gained an edge in 3-point shooting. The Greyhounds converted 5 of 11 treys, while Central Oklahoma made just 5 of 21 shots from behind the arc.

Austin led the Hounds with six assists, as Eastern’s motion offense led to 17 assists on 20 baskets. The Hounds also recorded 13 steals, with Jolen Montoya (Jr., G, Cordova, NM/Neosho County CC) earning four takeaways. Hunnicutt’s seven rebounds were followed by five each by Austin and Elzy.