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Western New Mexico University Athletics

Western New Mexico University Athletics
Latrell Spivey
Jay Hemphill, WNMU
51
Tex. A&M Int'l TAMIU 3-4
71
Winner Western N.M. WNMU 2-4
Tex. A&M Int'l TAMIU
3-4
51
Final
71
Western N.M. WNMU
2-4
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Tex. A&M Int'l TAMIU 17 34 51
Western N.M. WNMU 33 38 71

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Brian Kortz

Mustangs Blast Dustdevils by 20 for Largest Home Win Since 2013



SILVER CITY, N.M. – With a defensive effort that held Texas A&M International to just 28 percent shooting, along with seven blocks, the Western New Mexico University men's basketball team rolled to their largest win at home since 2013 as they downed the Dustdevils 71-51 Monday night.

It had been a long time coming for WNMU (2-4) as their last win of this margin came clear back on Dec. 14, 2013 inside Drag's Court against Western State in which the Mustangs took the 81-52 victory. It's also the first win over a Division II school since last year to start the season when WNMU took down Oklahoma Panhandle State, 83-73.

Senior Latrell Spivey (Phoenix, AZ/Westview) and junior Jon-Reese Woodson (Corpus Christi, TX/Carroll) each sent back three blocks, while junior Willie McCray (Clovis, NM/Clovis/Westwind Prep Academy) came away with three steals. Spivey made it a double-double on the night with 15 points and 11 rebounds, tied with McCray for the team lead in points as he also had 15, connecting on 3-4 from downtown. The Mustangs shared the ball with 19 assists on 26 field goals, hitting 26-57 (46) from the field, 6-14 (43) from three and 13-17 (77) at the foul line.

The WNMU defense kept TAMIU (3-4) to just 21 percent shooting (7-34) in the first half and 1-17 (6) from three. While the Mustangs led a majority of the game, TAMIU did grab the lead once early on at the 13:21 mark when Damon Leach hit a jumper for the 6-5 lead.

The Mustangs quickly answered with a 6-0 run to take the lead for good. Spivey started the run after a block on the other end and rebound, he caught a pass from junior Jordan Enriquez (El Paso, TX/Bel Air) and buried the layup. Redshirt sophomore Trevin Ramirez (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) hit a foul shot and after McCray added a free throw, sophomore CJ Vanbeekum (Phoenix, AZ/Paradise) ended the run with a jumper at the 10:24 mark for the 11-6 lead.

Junior Davis Wade (Jackson, MS/Will C Wood) then came off the bench and hit a couple of big three-pointers, with the last stretching the lead to seven at 17-10. WNMU had the advantage into double-digits when sophomore Eddie Giron (Monterrey, Mexico/Harmony Science Academy) finished off a three-point-play for the 20-10 lead with 6:48 to go before halftime.

The lead reached 16 a couple of times, the first on a transition layup by junior Haneef Vaughn-Wilson (Philadelphia, PA/Constitution) and then to end the half with two foul shots by Vaughn-Wilson for the 33-17 lead at the break.

Woodson started the second half in style as he finished off a fastbreak dunk to push the lead to 20 at 39-19. WNMU kept the intensity coming as they moved the lead out to their largest of the game with 9:55 to play in the game when Spivey hit a fastbreak layup for the 62-35 advantage.

TAMIU would get no closer than 17 points to rest of the way before the Mustangs claimed the 20-point victory.

While Spivey and McCray led the way in points and rebounding, Wade also reached double-figures with 10 points. Woodson and Vaughn-Wilson added eight points apiece. Vanbeekum added eight rebounds off the bench and led the team in assists with four.

TAMIU shot just 18-65 (28) from the field, 5-30 (17) from three and 10-19 (53) at the foul line. WNMU held the edge in bench points (23-19), fastbreak (10-9) and points in the paint (32-20).
Jeremy Wright and Dan Milota led the Dustdevils with 10 points apiece, while guard Danny Spinuzza had seven points and seven rebounds.

WNMU will look to carry the momentum from the win against TAMIU into their Lone Star Conference opener this Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. against nationally-ranked West Texas A&M that will take place inside Drag's Court.
 
 
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