Box Score SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University men's basketball team gritted out a tough matchup against conference newcomer Black Hills State University Friday night to come away with the 74-69 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory.


Western New Mexico University (WNMU) began to turn it on in the second half, as they went into the break down seven.


After falling behind by 10, 42-32, a minute in, Chad Carter (Tucson, AZ/Ironwood Ridge High School) hit one from the line and on his missed second free throw, Lucio Luttrell (Las Cruces, NM/Las Cruces High School) was there to collect the rebound and tip-in to trim the deficit to seven. The run continued thanks to a jumper from Merle Branch (Sierra Vista, AZ/Buena High School) and a pair from the charity stripe for Daryl Littleton (Tucson, AZ/Palo Verde High School) moved the lead to three, 42-39. WNMU (5-10, 4-7 RMAC) would eventually come all the way back, as they capped the 10-0 run with a free throw from Luttrell and a layup on the fastbreak from Juan Suarez (Nogales, AZ/Nogales High School) to tie it at 42 with 15 minutes left.


Black Hills State University (BHSU) would go back up four, which the Mustangs answered to that by coming back to take the lead on a three from Carter near the midway point of the second half, 48-47.


Holding a two-point lead, 65-63, with four minutes to play, Carter hit a big shot in the paint and later Littleton came through with a big rebound a put back for a five-point lead, 69-64. The lead would get as high as six, 72-66, on a three-point-play by Luttrell.


BHSU came back with a big three to get within three, 72-69, with just over a minute to play. From that point, the teams would trade chances, each missing three pointers leaving just 10 seconds and the Yellow Jackets with possession. On the ensuing in-bounds pass, Littleton came out to pressure the guard and came away with a steal that eventually led to a layup from Branch to seal the victory.


The first half was controlled by the Yellow Jackets early on, when WNMU would come back to take the lead at 20-19 on a three from Sohlich. The lead would get up to three on a layup by Luttrell on the next possession before BHSU went on a 7-0 run for the 26-22 lead.


The lead would get as high as 11 for BHSU with three minutes to go in the half, with the Mustangs trimming the deficit to seven a pair of times down the stretch before the break.


Luttrell tied for the game-high in points with 20, along with BHSU's Tanner Adler. Andy Sohlich (Battle Creek, MI/St. Phillip Catholic Central High School) came off the bench to score 15, while Carter was also in double-figures with 12. Littleton led the team in rebounds with seven, while also chipping in seven points.


Both teams shot over 40 percent from the field, with BHSU hitting on 48.1 percent (26-54), to a 27-for-66 (40.9) night for WNMU. Both teams hit five three-pointers, while WNMU held a 15-12 advantage in made free throws.


WNMU will return to action Saturday night when they will host Chadron State with tip set for 7:30 p.m. inside Drag's Court.