The Mustangs evened out their conference record Saturday night at Western State. Strong bench performances from Lucio Luttrell (Las Cruces, NM, Las Cruces High School) and Brelan Berry (Chandler, AZ, Basha High School) lifted WNMU (2-6, 2-2 RMAC) to an 85-80 victory. The Mountaineers fall to 1-7 on the season and 0-4 in the RMAC.

Luttrell posted a game-high 22 points in just 27 minutes of play. Berry notched his 12 points – all in the first half. Chuck Kempf (Chicago, IL, Lakes High School, Trinidad Junior College) recorded his first double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Like the Mustangs, five Mountaineers had double figures with Joey Stukes posting the high with 16 points.

WNMU found themselves down by 10 (13-3) within the first three minutes of the game. The WSC lead eventually elevated to 15 with 13:35 left in the first. Finally at the 8:27 mark, the lackluster WNMU shooting seized. Luttrell provided solid offense while Berry put together some big defensive stops, as well as key points in the paint, to go on an 11-0 run over the next two minutes.

Hitting one of his three three-pointers on the half, Luttrell and WNMU saw the first lead of the game with :49 left on the clock in the first. WNMU was ahead, 43-40, at intermission.

WNMU held the lead the entire second half, but shaky free throw shooting down the stretch led to some tense moments for the purple and gold. With only a three-point lead in the final minute and a half, the Mustangs missed 7 of 12 freebies in the “must foul” double bonus situation. WNMU hit 10 of 12 attempts from the free throw line prior. The missed free throws, however, were evened out by key offensive boards by Kempf.

WNMU outrebounded WSC, 49-39.

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