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Western New Mexico University Athletics

Western New Mexico University Athletics
Willie McCray
Jay Hemphill, WNMU
62
Western N.M. WNMU 0-2
75
Winner Fort Lewis FLC 1-1
Western N.M. WNMU
0-2
62
Final
75
Fort Lewis FLC
1-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Western N.M. WNMU 20 42 62
Fort Lewis FLC 35 40 75

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Brian Kortz

McCray Goes for 26 Points Against No. 16 Fort Lewis

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Junior Willie McCray (Clovis, NM/Clovis/Westwind Prep Academy) piled up 26 points, making 9-15 from the field and 3-6 from long range to pace the Western New Mexico University men's basketball team against No. 16 Fort Lewis. The Skyhawks fought off a run by the Mustangs in the second half to claim the 75-62 victory Sunday at Dream Style Arena-The Pit during the Conference Challenge.

McCray was in rhythm early and often as he also added four rebounds and an assist in 31 minutes. FLC (1-1) held a 35-20 lead at the break and then WNMU (0-2) got things going in the second half.

The Skyhakws began the second half with a layup over a minute in to open their largest lead of the game of 17 when McCray started his own solo run. McCray hit a jumper 17 seconds later, then hit two from the line, stepped back for a three, added another jumper before capping off his 11-0 run with two from the line leaving FLC ahead by just six at 37-31 at the 15:47 mark.

FLC responded with a 15-7 run to move back in front by 14 at 52-38 near the midway point of the second stanza. Junior Haneef Vaughn-Wilson (Philadelphia, PA/Constitution) helped ignite a 6-0 spurt with two from the line. After McCray hit a layup, Vaughn-Wilson closed the run with a steal and fastbreak layup trimming the deficit to eight.

The Mustangs made one last run to get back to within seven on two occasions, the first at 55-48 on a layup by McCray and then on another layup by McCray at the 6:08 mark left FLC with the 57-50 lead.

From that point on, the Skyhawks showed why they are one of the top teams in the region and in the nation as they closed the game outscoring WNMU 18-12 for the victory.

In the first half, the Mustangs jumped out to a fast 6-2 lead on a jumper by junior Jon-Reese Woodson (Corpus Christi, TX/Carroll). Senior Latrell Spivey (Phoenix, AZ/Westview) kept the lead at one at 9-8 with a jumper at the 16:12 mark before the Skyhawks controlled play the remainder of the first half as they outscored the Mustangs 27-11 to take a 35-20 lead into halftime.

Both teams struggled from the field with WNMU making 21-65 (32) from the field, 4-23 (17) from three and 16-26 (62) at the foul line. FLC shot just 25-64 (39) overall from the field, but hit over 40 percent from three hitting 9-22 (41) and adding a 16-25 (64) effort from the charity stripe.

WNMU forced 17 turnovers and turned that into 16 points. They also held a 10-8 edge on steals and 16-13 on fastbreak points.

Outside of the big game from McCray, Vaughn-Wilson reached double-figures with 11 points and five rebounds.

Hernandez led four Skyhawks in double-digits with 19 points, while Bach and Miles added 11 points apiece and Wilson with a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds.

WNMU will remain on the road this week as they will have a rematch with New Mexico Highlands this Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in Las Vegas, N.M.
 
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