Vaughn-Wilson and McCray Pace Mustangs in Exhibition at UTEP

Box Score

EL PASO, Texas – Junior newcomer Haneef Vaughn-Wilson (Philadelphia, PA/Constitution) led the Mustangs with 12 points, while junior Willie McCray (Clovis, NM/Clovis/Westwind Prep Academy) added 10 points as the Western New Mexico University men's basketball team opened the 2017-18 season with an exhibition contest at UTEP with the Miners taking the 98-50 victory Friday night.

WNMU took a lead two minutes in when senior Latrell Spivey (Phoenix, AZ/Westview) connected on a jumper for the 2-1 advantage. UTEP quickly answered back with a 12-0 run for the 13-2 lead just over five minutes into the opening half.

Redshirt sophomore Trevin Ramirez (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) scored the first three-pointer of the season for the Mustangs at the 14:21 mark to trim the deficit to eight. Spivey then added to that a jumper leaving the Miners ahead by just six at 13-7.

Junior newcomer Jon-Reese Woodson (Corpus Christi, TX/Carroll) helped bring WNMU back to within six near the midway point of the half when he connected on two from the line leaving UTEP in front 19-13.

After that, UTEP controlled play the remainder of the half to take a 44-27 lead into halftime. WNMU was close in several categories through the first 20 minutes as UTEP held a 10-8 edge on points off turnovers and 11-10 on bench points, while the teams tied at six points each in second-chance and WNMU held the 5-3 advantage in fastbreak.

Vaughn-Wilson opened the second half with a layup a minute in to trim the deficit to 15. After McCray sunk a three-pointer, Vaughn-Wilson added two from the line to keep the second half even at six points apiece.

After pulling back to within 15 at 50-35, UTEP took over as they scored the next 12 points and never looked back in taking the 98-50 victory.

Junior Jordan Enriquez (El Paso, TX/Bel Air) led the team in rebounds with six, Vaughn-Wilson had two assists and sophomore CJ Vanbeekum (Phoenix, AZ/Paradise) added two steals.

Keith Frazier went for a double-double to lead the Miners with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Trey Wade led all-scorers with 19 points as UTEP had five players in double-figures in scoring.

UTEP connected on 57 percent (38-67) from the field, 41 percent (11-27) from three and 69 percent (11-16) from the charity stripe. WNMU connected on 25 percent (15-60) from the field, 21 percent from three (5-24) and 71 percent from the foul line (15-21).

WNMU held the edge on second-chance points (11-8) and were close in both points off turnovers (21-17) and fastbreak (13-9). The Mustangs forced 17 turnovers.

WNMU will open the regular season on Nov. 11-12 when they will travel to Albuquerque to play in the Pit on the campus of the University of New Mexico against New Mexico Highlands and Fort Lewis with game time set for 3 p.m. both days.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#14 CJ Vanbeekum: G/F; 6' 5"; Junior

#10 Jon-Reese Woodson: F; 6' 9"; Senior

Players Mentioned

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

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

#14 CJ Vanbeekum
: 6' 5"; Junior
: G/F

#10 Jon-Reese Woodson
: 6' 9"; Senior
: F