Men’s Basketball Continues Homestand Against Mustangs, Aggies

SILVER CITY, N.M. – Following the intense battle with Eastern New Mexico a week ago, the Western New Mexico University men's basketball team has been off since that game on Jan. 3. They continue their homestand this week against Midwestern State and Cameron.

The Mustangs are 2-11 on the season and 0-5 in conference play. The game against Eastern New Mexico went back-and-forth before the Greyhounds pulled out the seven-point victory. Three different players have led the team in scoring in the last four games including senior Emery Range (Grand Rapids, MI/Willow Canyon), sophomore Willie McCray (Clovis, NM/Clovis/Westwind Prep Academy ) (twice) and last time out freshman Eddie Giron (Monterrey, Mexico/Harmony Science Academy). The starting five has remained the same in all but one game this season with sophomore Jordan Enriquez (El Paso, TX/Bel Air ), McCray, junior Latrell Spivey (Phoenix, AZ/Westview), Giron and Range opening up the game for WNMU.

Enriquez continues to lead the team in scoring at 13.3 points per game which ranks him 13th in the conference. McCray adds 10.4 and Spivey at 10.0 points per game round out the three in double-figures. Spivey continues to average a double-double bringing down 10.1 rebounds, good for second in the conference. Range checks in 10th in rebounding at 5.7. Enriquez is in the top-10 in minutes per game at 31.3. Nationally, Enriquez ranks 90th in free throw attempts (81) and is 144th in free throws made (54). Spivey is 27th in rebounds per game, 33rd in defensive rebounds per game (6.92), total rebounds (131) and 52nd in offensive rebounds per game (3.15).

WNMU as a team averages nearly 65 points per game and allows 80 points, they make 37 percent from the field and allow 43 percent. As a team, the Mustangs rank in the top-five in the Lone Star Conference in fewest turnovers, leading the conference with 181 and fifth in turnovers per game (13.9). WNMU ranks in the top-100 nationally in defensive rebounds per game, 77th with 27.31, 96th in fewest turnovers, 88th in field goal percentage defense (42.6) and 91st in free throw attempts (330).

First up on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. will be a matchup with Midwestern State. They are 10-4 overall on the season and 3-3 in the conference and are currently on a four-game winning streak. They are 2-2 away from home in true road contests. During the winning streak they have bested St. Gregory's, Texas A&M-Kingsville, West Texas A7M and UT Permian Basin all in Wichita Falls. The team has had to shuffle around some players, with seven players playing all 14 games this year. Six players average in double-figures, but four are currently still playing led by Brandon Neel's 12.8 points per game. Devante Pullum and Igor Ibaka tally 10.9 points per game, with Pat Smith right behind at 10.2 per game. Ibaka and Neel rank in the top-10 in the conference in rebounding pulling down 8.1 and 6.0 respectively. Pullum is second in the conference in assists at 4.6 and fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.2. Midwestern State averages nearly 79 points per game and allow 70 points, they make 43 percent from the field and allow 39 percent.

To close the weekend, WNMU will face Cameron on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. The Aggies are 10-6 overall and 3-3 in the conference, they split this past weekend defeating UT Permian Basin, 81-76, and then fell in a marathon four overtime battle with West Texas A&M, 98-100. They are 1-3 away from home in true road contests. Tyler Williams leads the team with 12.7 points per game, followed by Tyus Momoh's 12.6 per game and JV Long adds 10.4. Trey Hall leads the conference in three-point field goal percentage at 42.5 percent. Long is fourth in the conference with an 84 percent free throw shooting percentage. Momoh is third in assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.3 and Long leads the conference in minutes at 33.6. Cameron averages 76 points per game and allow 72 points, they make 40 percent from the field and allow 42 percent.

Live video, stats and audio will be available for both games with Mike Rowse on the call for KSCQ 92.9 and streamed live.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#15 Jordan Enriquez: G; 6' 3"; Sophomore

#23 Willie McCray: G; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#5 Emery Range: G; 6' 5"; Senior

#32 Eddie Giron: G; 6' 5"; Freshman

#12 Latrell Spivey: F; 6' 8"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#15 Jordan Enriquez
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: G

#23 Willie McCray
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: G

#5 Emery Range
: 6' 5"; Senior
: G

#32 Eddie Giron
: 6' 5"; Freshman
: G

#12 Latrell Spivey
: 6' 8"; Junior
: F