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Western New Mexico University Athletics

Western New Mexico University Athletics
CJ Vanbeekum
Jay Hemphill, WNMU
Freshman guard CJ Vanbeekum paced the Mustangs with 13 points against Midwestern State.
94
Winner Midwestern St. MSU 11-4, 4-3 LSC
59
Western N.M. WNMU 2-12, 0-6 LSC
Winner
Midwestern St. MSU
11-4, 4-3 LSC
94
Final
59
Western N.M. WNMU
2-12, 0-6 LSC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Midwestern St. MSU 44 50 94
Western N.M. WNMU 23 36 59

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Brian Kortz

Men’s Basketball Runs Into Fastbreaking Mustangs

SILVER CITY, N.M. – Midwestern State University liked to get it and go fast and they did that throughout the game Thursday night against the Western New Mexico University men's basketball team as they cashed in 30 fastbreak points and shot 55 percent from the floor to down WNMU 94-59 in Lone Star Conference action.

With not only the guards pushing the tempo, the post players were also going up-and-down the floor as MSU (11-4, 4-3 LSC) recorded 44 points in the paint and shot over 50 percent in both halves to grab the victory. Midwestern State ended up making 37-67 (55) from the field, 7-19 (37) from three and 13-17 (77) at the foul line. They also benefited from even point distribution with five players scoring in double-figures and eight with at least seven points. Magnus Richards on the inside led the way with 17 points, while also sending back four blocks, snagging two steals and collecting five rebounds. Fellow big man Igor Ibaka added a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Nick Powell, a versatile big man that stepped back and hit three three-pointers, was second in scoring with 15. Setting up the offense was Devante Pullum who dished out 12 assists.

WNMU (2-12, 0-6 LSC) recovered from a tough shooting first half to shoot 38 percent in the second half and finish making 34 percent connecting on 22-64. They made 5-27 (19) from three and 10-18 (56) at the foul line. Freshman guard CJ Vanbeekum (Phoenix, AZ/Paradise) provided a spark off the bench to lead the team with 13 points, he also added three rebounds and a steal. Junior center Latrell Spivey (Phoenix, AZ/Westview) tallied 12 points, making 4-8 from the field and a perfect 4-4 at the charity stripe, he also grabbed seven rebounds and sent back a block. Redshirt Freshman guard Trevin Ramirez (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) added nine points on 3-7 shooting.

It was a sluggish start for both teams as MSU scored the first points two minutes in and sophomore guard Willie McCray (Clovis, NM/Clovis/Westwind Prep Academy ) evened the score nearly four minutes in with his layup off the fastbreak.

MSU pushed the tempo and quickly went on a 9-0 run and a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Freshman Alex Gonzalez Alvarez (Madrid, Spain/Xperia Zentro San Jorge) drilled a three near the midway point of the opening half to cut the deficit back to six at 13-7.

Another big run by the fast-paced MSU Mustangs followed, this one a 10-0 variety to jump the lead to 23-7 with nine minutes to go before halftime.

A Vanbeekum three at the 8:44 mark had WNMU as close as they would get the rest of the half down 13, as MSU added eight more points to their lead to take a 44-23 lead into halftime. Eight of the nine players that played for MSU in the first half scored, while Vanbeekum and Ramirez paced the Mustangs with five points apiece.

Although WNMU played relatively even with MSU for a majority of the second half, they weren't able to cut into the lead much. Spivey cashed in an offensive rebound by Gonzalez Alvarez at the 12:37 mark of the second half to pull WNMU back to within 20 at 60-40.

That was as close as WNMU was able to get the rest of the way.

The other miscellaneous stats were close outside of a 22-13 edge for MSU on points off turnovers and points in the paint (44-34), MSU held a slight edge on the rest including second-chance (16-14), bench (36-30).

WNMU will conclude their four-game homestand this Saturday at 4 p.m. against Cameron. The Aggies bested Eastern New Mexico 78-66 earlier tonight.
 
 
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