Box Score SILVER CITY, N.M. – A late second half run and a big night from Chad Carter (Tucson, AZ/Ironwood Ridge High School) was all that the Western New Mexico University men's basketball team needed on their way to taking the 75-65 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory over Chadron State College Saturday night.


Chadron State College (CSC) opened strong with a 7-2 lead two minutes in. Western New Mexico University (WNMU) would fight back to take a 12-10 lead on a three from Merle Branch (Sierra Vista, AZ/Buena High School) at the 15-minute mark.


The lead would stretch to four a few minutes later on a big transition dunk by Carter for a 16-12 advantage.


After the Eagles (1-14, 1-10 RMAC) came back to take a one-point lead, Carter again ignited WNMU (6-10, 5-7 RMAC) with a three on the fastbreak for a 23-21 lead near the midway point of the half.


CSC would again be pesky, fighting back to claim a one-point halftime lead on a late fastbreak layup for the 35-34 score.


With the score tied at 38 two minutes into the second stanza, Carter came through with yet another three in transition and after Juan Suarez (Nogales, AZ/Nogales High School) delivered a jumper on the fastbreak, Carter hit a free throw for a 6-0 run and 44-38 lead at the 15:46 mark.


The Eagles would chip away, getting back to within three, 61-58, with 4:19 to play when Lucio Luttrell (Las Cruces, NM/Las Cruces High School) came through with a layup and jumper both in the paint on consecutive trips for a 65-58 lead.


After an Eagle basket, the Mustangs went on a 9-0 run to put the game away. Carter started the rally with a pair from the charity stripe, which Merle Branch (Sierra Vista, AZ/Buena High School) added to that with a pair from the line and then Suarez completed the run with a three-point-play and a layup for the 74-61 lead and just 30 seconds to play.


Carter tallied 24 points to lead all scorers, as he made 8-of-14 from the floor, including a 4-for-7 night from downtown. He also had five rebounds, two blocks and three steals in 36 minutes.  Suarez (12) and Luttrell (11) were also in double-figures. Daryl Littleton (Tucson, AZ/Palo Verde High School) came off the bench to lead the team in rebounds with nine, along with eight points. Zac Bargen paced the Eagles with 20.


WNMU shot 47.3 percent (26-55) from the field, while CSC also shot well at 48 percent (24-50). Turnovers were big with CSC committing 19 to 10 for WNMU, as that led to 18 Mustang points. WNMU held the advantage in three-pointers (9-5) and free throws made (14-12).


With the win, WNMU remains tied with New Mexico Highlands for eighth in the RMAC standings. The two teams will battle in Las Vegas this coming Saturday with game time set for 3:00 p.m.