Tarleton State Holds Off Greyhounds in Lone Star Conference Battle, 75-69
ENMU Hits 10 of 19 Three-Pointers

Box Score

PORTALES, N.M. — Tarleton State University, ranked third in the NCAA Division II South Central Region, hit eight of 12 free throws in the final 1:26 and earned three individual rebounds and one deadball rebound on the four missed shots, as the Texans held off a strong effort from Eastern New Mexico University, 75-69, in a Lone Star Conference game on Wednesday, Jan. 25. Tarleton State moved to 15-4 on the season, including 4-0 in the LSC South. ENMU fell to 7-11, 1-2 in the LSC South.

Derek Atwood gave the Texans a 65-60 lead by hitting the first of two free throws at the 1:26 mark. He missed the second shot, which was rebounded by John Davis. Several seconds later, Norbey Aragon sank a 3-pointer, assisted by LaShon Sheffield, giving TSU a 68-60 advantage with 1:20 to go. The lead reached 70-60 when Sheffield added two free throws with 0:55 remaining.

Eastern hit three 3-pointers the rest of the way, pulling within five points twice. Stephen Wilson (Jr., G, Heflin, AL/Gadsden State CC) cut the deficit to 71-66 with 34 seconds left and Joshua Jackson (Fr., G, Madison, WI/Madison West HS) made the score 74-69 with 13 seconds on the clock. Atwood sank the first of two free throws with 10 seconds to play, then grabbed the rebound when he missed the second shot, as TSU closed out the win.

TSU placed four of five starters in double figures, led by Aragon with 19 points. Davis added 16 points and a game-high 16 rebounds, while Nic Gamble comtributed 15 points and 11 boards. Sheffield tacked on 11 points and led all players with six rebounds. The Texans outrebounded the Greyhounds, 49-32.

Tristan Largent (Jr., F, Martinsville, WV/Garrett College) scored a career-high 21 points for ENMU. He was 8 of 12 from the field, including 5 of 8 on 3-point shots. His efforts spearheaded a long-range attack by the Greyhounds, who scored on 10 of 19 three point attempts.

Jolen Montoya (Sr., G, Cordova, NM/Neosho County CC) provided Eastern with 17 points, five asssists and three rebounds, while Mikal Monette (Jr., F, Albuquerque, NM/University of New Mexico) earned 14 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Jackson chipped in eight points and four assists in just 15 minutes.

In the first half, Davis sank two free throws for TSU to open the game, but Eastern took a
3-2 lead on a three-pointer by Largent at the 19:32 mark and remained in front or tied with the Texans for most of the half. ENMU owned five-point leads twice during the half, including 19-14 following a trifecta by Montoya with 11:01 left.

TSU tied the game for the third time at 22-22 with 9:14 on the clock and eventually claimed a 26-25 lead on a layup by Davis with 7:22 to go. The game was tied for a fourth time, 27-27, at the 5:10 mark, before the Texans went on an 8-2 run. Monette scored the final two points of the half for Eastern with 54 seconds left, as the Hounds stayed close, 35-31, at the break.

The Texans recorded the first four points of the second half and took a 42-33 advantage when Sheffield launched a successful three-pointer with 16:45 left. ENMU rallied to within 46-44 on a 3-pointer by Largent with 12:12 to play, and cut the deficit to a single point, 49-48, on a pair of foul shots by Travis Carr (Jr., G, Colorado Springs, CO/Otero JC) with 10:07 left.

Eastern fell behind 62-52 at the 4:05 mark, after TSU ended a 13-4 run with seven straight points on a three-pointer by Atwood and dunks by Davis and Mookie Works. ENMU countered with the next six points on two layups by Montoya and one by Largent. Davis added a dunk for TSU with 1:47 to go, before Largent put in a jumper to pull Eastern within 64-60 at the 1:28 mark.

Tarleton State connected on 25 of 60 field goals (41.7%), while ENMU sank 26 of 63 shots (41.3%). Eastern’s 10-of-19 three-point shooting included 6 of 9 in the second half. The Texans were 7 of 19 on three-point shots (36.8%).

ENMU committed 23 fouls, compared to 13 on the Texans. As a result, TSU attempted 15 more free throws, with the Texans converting 18 of 26 attempts. ENMU put through 7 of 11 free throws, including 2 of 4 in the second half.

The Greyhounds will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 28, when they host Midwestern State University in a Lone Star Conference South Division game. Tip-off at Greyhound Arena is slated for 7 p.m. MST. Following game against MSU, the Greyhounds will travel to Canyon, Texas, on Monday, Jan. 30 to take on arch rival West Texas A&M University at 7 p.m. MST.