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Western New Mexico University Athletics

Western New Mexico University Athletics
CJ Vanbeekum
Jay Hemphill, WNMU
74
Winner Tex. A&M-Kingsville TAMUKM 16-10, 9-8 LSC
61
Western N.M. WNMU 2-23, 0-17 LSC
Winner
Tex. A&M-Kingsville TAMUKM
16-10, 9-8 LSC
74
Final
61
Western N.M. WNMU
2-23, 0-17 LSC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Tex. A&M-Kingsville TAMUKM 37 37 74
Western N.M. WNMU 25 36 61

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Brian Kortz

Mustangs Play Strong Second Half Against Texas A&M-Kingsville, Vanbeekum Tallies 18 Points

SILVER CITY, N.M. – Throughout a majority of the first half, it was all Texas A&M-Kingsville. The Western New Mexico University men's basketball team turned up the heat at the end of the half to go on a 6-0 run. That momentum carried into the second half as the Mustangs made things interesting before the Javelinas took the 74-61 Lone Star Conference victory Thursday night.

Freshman CJ Vanbeekum (Phoenix, AZ/Paradise) had a big game tallying a career-high 18 points, making 5-10 from the field, 4-8 from deep and 4-4 at the foul line. He also added a team-high eight rebounds and recorded a steal in 29 minutes. While he was the only Mustang to score in double-figures, sophomore Willie McCray (Clovis, NM/Clovis/Westwind Prep Academy ) and freshman Alex Gonzalez Alvarez (Madrid, Spain/Xperia Zentro San Jorge) went for nine points apiece. Gonzalez Alvarez was dialed in from long range going 3-5.

The big stat of the night for Texas A&M-Kingsville (16-10, 9-8 LSC) was their defense that sent back 13 blocks, tying for the most in a game this season in the conference. Robert Stevenson sent back seven himself, which is the second-most in a game this season in the LSC.

WNMU (2-23, 0-17 LSC) started the game strong moving out to a 5-1 lead with senior Emery Range (Grand Rapids, MI/Willow Canyon) hitting two at the line and a long ball by Vanbeekum.

Just as quickly as WNMU took the lead, the Javelinas grabbed the lead right back going on an 8-0 run for the 9-5 lead seven minutes into the game.

Gonzalez Alvarez and Vanbeekum hit on back-to-back threes on consecutive possessions to help bring the Mustangs back to within five on each occasion. Another Gonzalez Alvarez deep ball at the 4:14 mark made it a 23-18 game when Texas A&M-Kingsville suddenly took off.

An 11-0 run followed to push the lead to 16. Later, the lead was at 18 at 37-19 with just 1:19 to play in the half when the Mustangs turned it on. Freshman Eddie Giron (Monterrey, Mexico/Harmony Science Academy) hit two from the line and after a steal and dunk by Giron, freshman Tyshaun Copper (Brooklyn, N.Y./Brooklyn Collegiate Prep School) closed the half with a layup leaving the Javelinas with just a 37-25 lead at halftime.

Texas A&M-Kingsville threatened to put the game away as they had the lead as high as 22 near the midway point of the half, but WNMU didn't go away. A quick 9-0 run followed as Vanbeekum, Giron and redshirt freshman Trevin Ramirez (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) all contributed points during the stretch to bring WNMU to within 13 at 59-46 with 6:46 to play.

Near the four-minute mark, McCray got loose for back-to-back three-pointers to cut the deficit back to single digits at eight with still 3:39 to play. With TAMK back in front by 11, a big foul turned into four free throws, as a technical foul followed and WNMU hit all four from the line to get back to within seven with 1:22 to play.

However, the Javelinas were able to close the deal, going on a 6-0 run to put the game out of reach.

Texas A&M-Kingsville had four players score in double-figures led by 23 from Trey Sumpter. Will West added 19, Duan Wright with 11 and Caelan Neal with 10.

WNMU made 17-62 (27) from the field, 10-24 (42) from three and 17-24 (71) at the foul line. TAMK answered making 24-50 (48), 9-19 (47) from three and 17-23 (74) at the charity stripe. WNMU held the edge on points off turnovers (12-10) and bench points (33-27), while the Javelinas took the advantage on second-chance points (9-7), points in the paint (26-12) and fastbreak points (8-7).

The Mustangs will close out the season this Saturday at 4 p.m. against Angelo State. Emery Range (Grand Rapids, MI/Willow Canyon), the only senior on the team, will be honored before the game. Angelo State fell to Eastern New Mexico 82-66 earlier tonight and are now on the outside looking in on the conference tournament picture.
 
 
 
 
 
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