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Western New Mexico University Athletics

Western New Mexico University Athletics
Eddie Giron
Jay Hemphill, WNMU
55
Western New Mexico WNMU 1-5 (0-1 LSC)
91
Winner West Texas A&M WTAMU 9-1 (1-0 LSC)
Western New Mexico WNMU
1-5 (0-1 LSC)
55
Final
91
West Texas A&M WTAMU
9-1 (1-0 LSC)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Western New Mexico WNMU 29 26 55
West Texas A&M WTAMU 40 51 91

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Brian Kortz

No. 24 West Texas A&M Uses Big Second Half to Run Past Men’s Basketball

CANYON, Texas – The Western New Mexico University men's basketball team had worked their way back into the contest down by just 11 at halftime when No. 24 West Texas A&M used a 51-point second half on their way to taking the 91-55 Lone Star Conference victory Thursday night.

Similar to the women's game, a strong inside game by WTAM (9-1, 1-0 LSC) helped them to the win as they held a 48-24 edge on points in the paint. Points off turnovers (23-10) and second-chance (21-11) also favored the nationally-ranked Buffs.

Senior Emery Range (Grand Rapids, MI/Willow Canyon) and freshman Eddie Giron (Monterrey, Mexico/Harmony Science Academy) paced the Mustangs (1-5, 0-1 LSC) with 10 points apiece. Junior Latrell Spivey (Phoenix, AZ/Westview) saw his four straight games with a double-double streak snapped finishing with eight points and six rebounds.

Shooting was strong to start for WNMU hitting at a 44 percent clip (12-27) through the first 20 minutes, but were limited to a 9-29 (31) effort in the second half to finish 21-56 (38). The Buffs countered hitting 43 percent in the first half and 50 in the second half making 34-72 (47) for the game. The Mustangs contained Preseason Player of the Year David Chavlovich holding him to just six points on 2-9 shooting. Jordan Evans led the way with 16 points, Ryan Quaid added 15 and Carl White with 13.

WNMU grabbed their first and only lead of the game 31 seconds in when sophomore Willie McCray (Clovis, NM/Clovis/Westwind Prep Academy ) connected on a three-pointer for the 3-1 lead. A 12-0 run followed by the Buffs and they never looked back.

Despite not regaining the lead again, WNMU fought back a few times, trimming the deficit back to single digits late in the first half. McCray started a 6-0 run with a layup and then after a jumper by Giron and layup by Spivey, the Mustangs were down just seven at 29-22 with 5:21 to play before the break.

Freshman CJ Vanbeekum (Phoenix, AZ/Paradise) pulled WNMU to within six with 2:42 to go before halftime when he connected on a layup. The Buffs rallied to take a 40-29 lead into the break.

Giron hit a free throw to start the second half to cut the deficit back to 10 just to watch WTAM begin to pull away. They boosted the lead into the 20's with just over 14 minutes to go in the game and never looked back in taking the victory.

WNMU will close the road swing on Saturday at 4 p.m. (Central Time) when they play at UT Permian Basin. The Falcons were able to pull away from Eastern New Mexico for the 94-79 victory earlier tonight for their eighth win of the season.
 
 
 
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