Box Score SPEARFISH, S.D. – Despite a strong game from
Willie McCray (Clovis, NM/Clovis/Westwind Prep Academy ) and a solid second half, the Western New Mexico University men's basketball team wasn't able to come all the way back against Black Hills State University before falling, 68-57, Saturday night in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.
McCray came off the bench and in just 23 minutes of action put up a game-high 17 points making 6-10 from the field, including 3-4 from three point range.
Emery Range (Grand Rapids, MI/Willow Canyon) had the Mustangs (0-10, 0-5 RMAC) in front a minute in with a jumper for the 4-2 advantage. Range pushed WNMU in front again at 6-4 with another jumper. A pair of free throws by
Brandon Tanter (Long Beach, CA/Los Angeles Prep) gave WNMU an 8-7 lead at the 15:50 mark before BHSU (4-5, 2-3 RMAC) took off.
The Yellow Jackets unleashed a 7-0 run to move in front 15-8. The run didn't stop there as for the remainder of the opening half BHSU outscored WNMU 31-18 to take a 46-26 lead into halftime.
The Mustangs would outscore BHSU 31-22 in the second half.
Makhtar Fall (Morocco/Ecole Al Jabr) and
Steven Loucks (Yuma, AZ/Cibola) combined for three free throws to start the second stanza. Near the midway point of the half McCray went on his own 6-0 run that had WNMU down just 12 at 52-40.
That ended up being as close as they could get the rest of the way before Tanter closed the scoring with a layup to provide the final score of 68-57.
Outside of McCray's big game, Tanter added nine points. Fall led in rebounds with six and Brandon William had two assists. For the first time this season the Mustangs didn't register a blocked shot. WNMU made 21-57 (36.8) from the field and went 5-18 (27.8) from three point range. The Mustangs continue to do well at the foul line going 10-13 (76.9).
Nick Ongarato paced the Yellow Jackets with 16 points and also grabbed seven rebounds. BHSU made 24-52 (46.2) from the field, going 9-29 (31) from three point range and 11-13 (84.6) at the foul line.
WNMU will now have the next week off before returning to action on New Year's Day when they host Colorado School of Mines at 7:30 p.m. FREE admission will be available for the game. Come out and celebrate the New Year with the Mustangs!
