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Western New Mexico University Athletics

Western New Mexico University Athletics
Willie McCray
Jay Hemphill, WNMU
72
Western N.M. WNMU 2-22, 0-16
89
Winner Midwestern State MSU 14-12, 7-10
Western N.M. WNMU
2-22, 0-16
72
Final
89
Midwestern State MSU
14-12, 7-10
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Western N.M. WNMU 44 28 72
Midwestern State MSU 46 43 89

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Brian Kortz

Mustangs’ Can’t Keep Hot Shooting Going, Fall Just Short at Midwestern State

WICHITA FALLS, Texas – The Western New Mexico University men's basketball team couldn't miss through the first 20 minutes and in the process they piled up 44 points and shot 48 percent to trail by just two at halftime. Midwestern State held a 15-point edge in the second half to take the 89-72 Lone Star Conference victory on Saturday.

WNMU (2-22, 0-16 LSC) made 15-31 in the first half with sophomore Jordan Enriquez (El Paso, TX/Bel Air ) tallying 14 points as he made 5-6 and 3-4 from three. Everything changed in the final 20 minutes as the Mustangs were held to 11-34 (32) and 28 points and Midwestern State (14-12, 7-10 LSC) went 16-30 (53) and recorded 43 points.

Overall, four Mustangs reached double-digits in scoring with sophomore Willie McCray (Clovis, NM/Clovis/Westwind Prep Academy ) going for 19 points on 7-14 shooting, along with a rebound, three assists and three steals. Enriquez finished with 14 points on 5-10 shooting, with four rebounds, four assists and a steal. Freshman Eddie Giron (Monterrey, Mexico/Harmony Science Academy) added 12 points on 4-6 shooting, 3-4 from three, three rebounds and an assist, while freshman CJ Vanbeekum (Phoenix, AZ/Paradise) went for 11 points on 4-8 shooting with four rebounds and three assists. Junior Latrell Spivey (Phoenix, AZ/Westview) continues to add to his rebounding numbers grabbing down a team-high 14 boards.

Giron went on his own 5-0 run to give WNMU their first lead of the game at 5-2. After MSU regained the lead, Enriquez quickly put the Mustangs back in front with a long ball. McCray then boosted the lead to four at 10-6 with a jumper just over three minutes in.

WNMU had the lead at four several times, moving back ahead 13-9 at the 14:51 mark on a three-pointer by Giron. Midwestern State then took their own four-point lead at 22-18 near the midway point of the half.

Enriquez continued his hot shooting in the first half drilling another trey a few minutes later to move WNMU back ahead at 25-24. The teams continued to trade leads in a back-and-forth battle through the first 20 minutes as Giron hit a foul shot at the 2:50 mark to keep WNMU in front at 41-38.

MSU outscored WNMU by five the remainder of the half to hold a 46-44 lead at the break.

A 7-0 run started the second stanza for MSU over the first three-plus minutes to move the lead to nine at 53-44. Giron pulled the Mustangs back to within three with a long ball at the 15:36 mark, but MSU kept the pressure on. Midwestern State went on a 10-2 run over the next three minutes to push the lead to double-digits at 65-54.

MSU kept the lead in double-figures the rest of the way to take the victory.

Five players scored in double-figures to lead MSU with Brandon Neel going for 18 points. Pat Smith added 17, Magnus Richards and Igor Ibaka with 16 apiece and Shawn Nottingham added 10 points. Ibaka posted a double-double with 13 rebounds.

WNMU finished 26-65 (40) from the field, 11-30 (37) from three and 9-14 (64) from the foul line. MSU made 31-61 (51) from the field, 5-14 (36) from three and 22-34 (65) at the charity stripe.

WNMU held the edge on bench points (18-16), while MSU controlled the other categories including points off turnovers (23-16), second-chance points (19-13), points in the paint (48-24) and fastbreak points (15-10).

The Mustangs will head home to finish the season this coming week against Texas A&M-Kingsville on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. before senior day will take place on Saturday at 4 p.m. versus Angelo State.
 
 
 
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