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ENMU arrow Athletics arrow News arrow Press Releases arrow 2006 Archive arrow 1/30 West Texas Builds 16-Point Halftime Lead
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arrow2006 Archive

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West Texas Builds 16-Point Halftime Lead
in 93-81 Victory over ENMU Greyhounds
Monette and Largent Record 20 Points apiece for Eastern

Box Score

PORTALES, N.M. — West Texas A&M University shot 62.1% and built a 43-27 lead in the first half, then matched nearly every basket by Eastern New Mexico University in the second half, as the Buffaloes defeated the Greyhounds, 93-81, at the First Union Bank Center on Monday, Jan. 30. WTAMU received 23 points apiece from Damien Lolar and Patrick Culver to improve to 15-5 on the season, 4-1 in the LSC South. Eastern was led by Mikal Monette (Jr., F, Albuquerque, NM/University of New Mexico) and by Tristan Largent (Jr., G, Martinsburg, WV/ Garrett College, each with 20 points. The Greyhounds fell to 8-12 overall, 2-3 in the LSC South.

The Buffs surged out to a 15-6 lead in the first six minutes. Eastern pulled within 17-14 at the 12:01 mark on a layup by Largent, but WTAMU tallied the next eight points for a 25-14 lead. ENMU reduced the margin to nine-points, 32-23, with 4:11 left in the half, before the Buffs closed the period with a 11-4 run.

Eastern shot just 39.3% (11 of 28) in the first half, while West Texas hit 18 of 29 field goals. In the second half, the Greyhounds rebounded with 61.3% field goal accuracy (19 of 31), but WTAMU shot well enough at 54.5% (18 of 33) to maintain a double-digit lead the rest of the way. The closest the Hounds got in the second half was 11 points, when Largent put through a jumper with 11:37 left to create a 59-48 score. The Buffs answered with a 9-2 run to take command.

WTAMU placed four players in double figures. Lolar recorded his 23 points on 11 of 15 shooting from the field and 1 for 4 at the line, while Culver reached 23 points by going 10 of 14 on field goals and 3 for 5 on free throws. Ronnie Holmes chipped in 16 points and Tyler Cooper added 13 points. Cooper’s father, West Texas A&M Head Coach Rick Cooper, recorded his 400th career victory. He is now 400-167 (.705) in 19 seasons as a head coach, including 258-117 (.688) in 13 years at WTAMU.

The Buffs ended the game with a slim 32-31 rebounding edge. Culver led the way with 11 rebounds, while Lolar added six. Eastern benefited from 11 rebounds by Monette and six boards from Largent. Largent also registered five assists for the Greyhounds, while Lolar and Kyle Shields each provided seven assists for the Buffaloes.

Monette and Largent were joined in double figures by teammates Jolen Montoya (Sr., G, Cordova, NM/Neosho County CC) and Donald Young (Jr., F, Mobile, AL/Southern Union State CC). Montoya contributed 15 points and hit 6 of 9 field goals (3 of 4 on 3-point shots). Young tallied 10 points and was 5 of 8 from the floor.

The Greyhounds will return home for their next two games. Eastern will host Texas A&M University-Kingsville on Thursday, Feb. 2 at 7:30 p.m. MST, before playing West Texas again on Monday, Feb. 6. Game time for the rematch with the Buffaloes at Greyhound Arena is set for 7:30 p.m. MST.

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