ENMU Hits 24 of 27 Free Throws in Win over MSU

2006 Archive

ENMU Hits 24 of 27 Free Throws in 79-72 Win over Midwestern State
Largent Scores Career-High 22 Points

PORTALES, N.M. — Tristan Largent (Jr., G, Martinsburg, WV/Garrett College) scored a career-high 22 points and the Greyhounds hit 24 of 27 free throws, as Eastern New Mexico University defeated Midwestern State University, Jan. 28 at Greyhound Arena. The Lone Star Conference victory improved the Greyhounds to 8-11 overall, 2-2 in the LSC South. MSU fell to 11-9 overall, including 0-5 in the LSC South.

Mikal Monette (Jr., F, Albuquerque, NM/University of New Mexico) add 14 points and a
career-high 14 rebounds for the Hounds, as ENMU recorded its fourth win in the last six games. LaKeith Grant led MSU with a game-high 24 points to go with eight rebounds.

Midwestern State, which recently changed its nickname from Indians to Mustangs, led 35-33 at halftime and 64-62 following a jumper by Eric Dawson with 5:42 remaining. Dawson was fouled on the play, but missed the free throw. The Greyhounds scored the next 10 points to start a 17-8 run to end the contest.

The first point of Eastern’s decisive run was scored by junior forward Ira Cross (Munford, AL/Gadsden State CC) when he connected on the second of two free throw tries with 4:57 left. Largent tacked on two free throws at the 4:29 mark, giving ENMU a 65-64 lead. Largent scored again with 3:27 to go, as he sank a 3-point shot.

ENMU continued to hold a 68-64 advantage until Cross grabbed a defensive rebound and was fouled with 3:20 remaining. Cross hit both free throws. He added two more charity shots at the 2:19 mark, after being fouled as he hauled down another defensive board.

The Mustangs finally stopped the 10-0 run when Dawson scored with 1:52 left. Dawson
finished the game with 21 points, six rebounds, five assists, seven steals and three blocked shots. Prior to Dawson’s basket, the Mustangs had missed five consecutive field goal attempts.

Grant cut Eastern’s lead to four points, 72-68, on a layup at the 1:03 mark. The Greyhounds returned to an eight-point advantage on two free throws by Jolen Montoya (Sr., G, Cordova, NM/Neosho County CC) with 49 seconds left, plus a dunk by Cross with 26 seconds to play.

Cross received a technical foul for holding onto the rim following his dunk. Russell Button missed the first free throw, but hit the second. On MSU’s ensuing possession, which began beneath the ENMU basket, Burton added a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 76-72 with 17 seconds left.

ENMU clinched the victory at the line. Travis Carr (Jr., G, Colorado Springs, CO/Otero JC) canned the first of two charity shots at the 0:14 mark. After Carr missed the second free throw, Monette grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 11 seconds left. He sank both free throws.

Largent’s 22 points represented his second career-high in as many games. He registered 21 points on Wednesday (Jan. 25) in Eastern’s 75-69 loss to Tarleton State University.

Against MSU, Largent also provided five assists and two steals. He was 6 of 12 from the field, including 4 of 7 from three-point range.

Monette’s career-high rebounding effort led all players on the glass, as ENMU outrebounded Midwestern State by a 40-27 margin. Carr supplied Eastern with 11 points and two assists, while Cross scored nine points and earned seven rebounds. Jake Holladay (Fr., F, Gilmer, TX/Gilmer HS) contributed eight points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals in 19 minutes played.

Grant and Dawson were the only MSU players in double figures, but they combined for 45 points and 14 rebounds. Button finished the game with nine points for the Mustangs, while Eddie Rowe provided four assists.

The Greyhounds converted 9 of 15 three-point shots (60.0%) and were 23 of 51 from the field (45.1%), including 11 of 21 (52.4%) in the second half. MSU connected on 48.4% of its field goal attempts (30 of 62), but the Mustangs hit only 3 of 15 three-pointers during the game. MSU also dropped from 53.3% field goal shooting in the first half to 43.8% over the final 20 minutes.

Midwestern State forced 22 turnovers by ENMU, while the Mustangs lost the ball 12 times. ENMU committed 12 turnovers in the first half.

Eastern returns to action on Monday, Jan. 30, with a game against arch rival West Texas A&M University. Game time in Canyon, Texas, is set for 6 p.m. MST. West Texas A&M enters the game with a 14-5 overall record, 3-1 in the LSC South, following a last-minute loss to 25th-ranked Tarleton State, 68-66, on Jan. 28.