Box Score ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. –
Marcos Castrillo (San Francisco, CA/Pinole Valley) poured in a career-high while at WNMU with 36 points to help bring the Western New Mexico University men's basketball team to within just a few points late when Eastern New Mexico University was able to hold off the run and claim the 94-87 victory Saturday in the Division II Basketball Classic at The Pit.
"We always seem to dig ourselves a big hole. I'm proud how we fought through it and made a great comeback," Head Coach
Jeff Law said. "Our youth hurt us early and Marcos kept us alive. However, our youth sparked us in the second half. I think we are growing."
Castrillo made 11-of-19, which included a three-pointer and 13 free throws to tally his 36 points. He also added a team-high nine rebounds and three blocks in a fitting 36 minutes on the floor.
Brandon Tanter (Long Beach, CA/Los Angeles Prep) gave WNMU (0-3) a 4-2 lead just a minute in with a jumper in the paint off an assist from
Terrez Scott (Santa Clarita, CA/Valencia).
ENMU (3-2) would go in front by as many as six when the Mustangs would come back a couple of times, the first on a trey by Castrillo. Castrillo would connect on a pair at the line at the 8:46 mark leaving ENMU ahead, 22-21. Castrillo would continue the run himself, hitting two more foul shots on the next trip down the court to push WNMU back in front, 23-22.
The Greyhounds would outscore the Mustangs by nine over the rest of the first half to take a 45-37 lead into halftime.
ENMU would extend their lead to as high as 19 when WNMU would come charging back.
With just over five minutes to play,
Gavin Wood (Florence, AZ/Florence ) cut the deficit to five with a layup and then stepped back and drained a three-pointer off a pass from
Brandon Williams (Long Beach, CA/Los Angeles Prep) to pull WNMU to within two.
After a pair of ENMU free throws, Wood again got loose for another deep ball as this three had the Mustangs down by just one, 79-78, with still 3:30 to play.
A 5-0 Greyhound run had them in front by six, but the game was far from over.
Wood hit four straight from the charity stripe and after a Greyhound foul shot, Tanter drove in for a layup with 1:37 to play leaving WNMU within one, 85-84, with still 1:37 to play.
ENMU answered with a layup and following a free throw by
Roland Wyatt (Los Angeles, CA/Juniper Serra ), the Greyhounds hit a big three by Deyton De La Cerda to give them a five-point lead with 53 seconds to play.
Williams came back with a layup, but after two more free throws by ENMU, they would hold on for the victory.
WNMU shot 45.8 percent (27-59) and went 28-of-40 (70) from the foul line.
Outside of Castrillo's big night, Wood came off the bench to tally 14 points in 16 minutes, making 3-of-7, including two three-pointers and a 6-for-6 effort at the foul line. Scott added nine points, while the other three starters were also close to double-figures with
Tyler Shea (Rancho Cucamunga, CA/Alta Loma) tallyinh eight, Wyatt and Tanter with seven apiece.
John Gilliam led ENMU with 25 points.
WNMU will have the coming week off before hosting Angelo State inside Drag's Court on Monday, Dec. 1 beginning at 5 p.m.
