Five Greyhounds Reach Double Figures, as ENMU Defeats Angelo State, 97-80
Young Scores Career-High 17 Points to Lead Eastern

Box Score

PORTALES, N.M. — Junior forward Donald Young (Mobile, AL/Southern Union State CC) scored 17 points to lead five Eastern New Mexico University players in double figures, as the Greyhounds led from start to finish in a 97-80 victory over Angelo State University, Feb. 15 at Greyhound Arena. The Lone Star Conference triumph moved ENMU to 10-14 overall, 4-5 in the LSC South. Angelo State fell to 8-17 on the season, including 0-10 in the LSC South.

Eastern moved one-half game ahead of Midwestern State University, 4-6, in the battle for the fourth and final LSC Tournament berth from the South Division. MSU lost at Texas A&M-Kingsville, 66-51, on Feb. 15.

The Greyhounds took an 11-2 lead just 3:46 into the game and led 16-4 with 15:32 left in the half. Freshman guard Joshua Jackson (Madison, WI/Madison West HS) scored eight of Eastern’s first 16 points by hitting a 3-pointer and 5 of 6 free throws.

ASU cut the margin to nine points, 20-11, when Quinn Barfield sank a 3-pointer with 12:49 on the clock. Eastern scored the next eight points on 3-point shots by Ira Cross (Jr., F, Munford, AL/Gadsden State CC) and Tristan Largent (Jr., G, Martinsburg, WV/Garrett College), followed by a layup from Young.

The Rams eventually pulled within eight points, 31-23, after Damian Mathieu hit a jump shot with 6:51 remaining in the half, but ENMU closed the period with a 20-10 run. Jackson led all players with 13 points in the first half, while Cross added 12 points. The Hounds shot 54.5% during the stanza (18 of 33), including 6 of 12 on 3-pointers. ENMU committed two turnovers in the first 20 minutes, while ASU lost the ball seven times.

Largent connected on a jump shot 15 seconds into the second half and the Greyhounds held comfortable leads throughout the final stanza. Eastern’s advantage reached 25 points at the 11:09 mark, 73-48. ASU went on an 8-0 run to get within 73-56, but the lead returned to 25 points, 83-58, following a three-pointer by Montoya with 7:11 remaining.

Young was joined in double figures by fellow Greyhound players Cross, Jackson, Largent and Jolen Montoya (Sr., G, Cordova, NM/Neosho County CC). Cross and Jackson each tallied 15 points, while Largent and Montoya each hit the nets for 14 points. Junior forward Mikal Monette (Albuquerque, NM/University of New Mexico) added nine points.

Cross and Monette tied for ENMU’s rebounding lead with nine boards each. Four other Hounds — Young, Largent, Jackson and Jake Holladay (Fr., F, Gilmer, TX/Gilmer HS) — provided five boards apiece. Eastern outrebounded the Rams, 42-29.

Eastern’s motion offense worked well throughout the night, as the Greyhounds scored 35 baskets and earned 24 assists. Jackson led the way with seven assists, while Largent supplied six and Montoya earned four. Eastern finished the game with 53.8% accuracy from the field (35 of 65) in addition to making 11 of 22 three-point shots. Montoya contributed four of the trifectas, while Largent added three.

The Rams received a game-high 18 points from Rashawn Childs. Barfield tacked on 13 points and Ronald “JR” Pittman scored 11 points to go with 10 rebounds. Childs also provided three assists, three steals and two rebounds. Angelo State was 29 of 66 on field goals (43.9%), including 11 of 26 from behind the 3-point line (42.3%). Childs was 4 of 8 from long-range.

ENMU remains at home to take on Abilene Christian University on Saturday, Feb. 18. Game time at Greyhound Arena is set for 7 p.m. MST. Abilene Christian is 8-17 overall, 3-7 in the LSC South. ACU hit seven three-pointers in the first nine minutes against ENMU on Jan. 21, as the Wildcats built a 29-11 lead, on their way to an 82-73 victory over the Greyhounds.