Wilson Leads ENMU to 62-56 Win over Lubbock Christian
Junior Transfer Scores 14 Points, Grabs Six Rebounds

Box Score

LUBBOCK, TEXAS — Junior guard Stephen Wilson (Heflin, AL/Gadsden State CC) scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds, leading Eastern New Mexico University to a 62-56 win over Lubbock Christian University, in the season opener for both teams, Nov. 15 at the Rip Griffin Center. ENMU, which led 32-26 at halftime but trailed by six points, 49-43, with 7:28 remaining, closed the game with a 19-7 run.

Wilson provided four assists and three steals in addition to leading the Hounds in scoring and rebounding. During Eastern’s decisive run, he scored a basket with 3:15 remaining for a 53-50 lead, then hit 4 of 6 free throws in the final 1:35.

Jolen Montoya (Sr., G, Cordova, NM/Neosho County CC) also made important contributions during they rally, starting with a 3-pointer at the 4:13 mark to put ENMU in front, 51-50. Montoya also converted two free throws with 1:07 remaining for a 59-56 advantage. He hit 1 of 2 charity shots with 29 seconds left to extend the lead to 60-56.

Wilson was joined in double figures by Ira Cross (Jr., F, Munford, AL/Gadsden State CC), who scored 10 points to go with five rebounds. Cross made 4 of 5 field goal attempts.

Tristan Largent (Jr., G, Martinsburg, WV/Garrett College) added nine points, while Montoya ended the game with eight points, two assists and two steals. Joshua Jackson (Fr., G, Madison, WI/Madison West HS) also scored eight points, all in the second half.

LCU’s top scorer was Max Eding with 18 points. Eding also earned three rebounds and three steals. Marques Baldwin and Dustin Patterson followed with 11 points apiece. Blake Huggins led LCU with six rebounds, while Patterson and Lance Boxell led the Chaparrals with four assists.

Eastern opened the game with an 11-4 run, capped by a 3-pointer by Wilson at the 12:12 mark of the first half. Later, the Greyhounds used a 5-0 run to take a 10-point lead, 29-19, with 3:48 on the clock. Largent scored the first two points of the run on a field goal, while Wilson completed the run with another 3-pointer. LCU finished the half with a 7-3 run of its own to pull within six points at the break.

ENMU did not score in the second half until the 14:20 mark, when Largent hit two free throws. The Chaps used Eastern’s scoring slump to tie the game at 32-32, but Largent’s free throws put the Hounds back in front. ENMU remained in the lead until Baldwin scored on a layup with 8:17 left, giving LCU a 43-42 lead. Baldwin’s go-ahead score started an 8-1 run by the Chaps, who held a 49-43 advantage following a layup and foul shot by Eding at the 7:18 mark

The Greyhounds countered by scoring the next eight points to move into the lead for good. Montoya’s 3-pointer with 4:13 left completed the run. Lubbock Christian pulled within a single point two times in the closing minutes, but couldn’t catch the Hounds, who made 7 of 10 free throws to clinch the victory.

ENMU shot 48.8% from the field (21 of 43), including 52.9% in the second half (9 of 17). The Greyhounds made 5 of 10 three-pointers, but connected on just 15 of 25 free throws. LCU made 21 of 44 field goals (47.7%), as the Chaps hit 12 of 22 in the first half (54.5%) before making just 9 of 22 (40.9%) over the final 20 minutes. The Chaps were successful on only 4 of 15 three-pointers and 10 of 17 free throws.

Eastern achieved a 31-25 edge in rebounds. The Hounds committed 18 turnovers and forced LCU into 23 mistakes. ENMU players registered 13 steals during the game.

The next action for Eastern will be at the Westlink Communications Classic at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kan. ENMU will take on Washburn University (Kan.) in the first round on Friday, Nov. 18 at 5 p.m. MST. Eastern will then face Fort Hays State or Illinois Institute of Technology on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. or 7 p.m. MST.