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Western New Mexico University Athletics

Western New Mexico University Athletics
Willie McCray
Jay Hemphill, WNMU
82
Winner Cameron CU 10-15, 6-10 LSC
78
Western N.M. WNMU 4-20, 1-14 LSC
Winner
Cameron CU
10-15, 6-10 LSC
82
Final
78
Western N.M. WNMU
4-20, 1-14 LSC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Cameron CU 38 44 82
Western N.M. WNMU 31 47 78

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Brian Kortz

McCray Pours in 24 Points Against Cameron in Tight Contest

SILVER CITY, N.M. – Junior Willie McCray (Clovis, NM/Clovis/Westwind Prep Academy) did all he could for the Western New Mexico University men's basketball team Thursday night, as he scored 20 or more points for fourth time this season when he recorded 24 against the Aggies. While he had a big game, Cameron University had to hold on at the end, as the Mustangs made a late push before the Aggies claimed the 82-78 Lone Star Conference victory.

Cameron (10-15, 6-10 LSC) ended up leading wire-to-wire, but it wasn't easy. McCray paced WNMU (4-20, 1-14 LSC) with 24 points on 9-19 shooting. He also had three rebounds, four assists and two steals. Junior Haneef Vaughn-Wilson (Philadelphia, PA/Constitution) reached double-digits with 17 points on 8-13 shooting, four rebounds, two assists and three steals. Sophomore CJ Vanbeekum (Phoenix, AZ/Paradise) added 13 points and five rebounds, while junior Jordan Enriquez (El Paso, TX/Bel Air) rounded out the four in double-figures with 10 points.

This looked awfully challenging for the Mustangs at the 17:02 mark of the second half when Cameron moved out to their largest lead of the game at 50-34. Still trailing by 16 at 57-41, WNMU caught firing going on a 10-0 run. During the spurt, McCray started things with a layup. He then dialed long distance, hit another jumper before Vanbeekum capped the run with a triple to just the deficit to six.

After the Aggies pushed the lead back into double-digits, the Mustangs came charging back. Trailing by 11 with four minutes to play, Vanbeekum drained another three-pointer and after three free throws by McCray, a free throw by senior Latrell Spivey (Phoenix, AZ/Westview) had WNMU to within four at 78-74 with 1:24 to play.

The defense held, forcing a tough three-pointer and on the other end, Enriquez was fouled. After he split the foul shots, it was a three-point contest with 44 seconds to play.

Tytus Momoh then hit arguably the biggest shot of the game when he sliced through the defense and connected on a layup to move the Aggies back in front by five, 80-75, with just 22 seconds to play.
WNMU kept fighting, as a McCray foul shot had it back to four and then after Cameron split a pair of free throws, a layup by McCray cut the deficit to three with three seconds to play. Momoh sealed the game at the line when he hit one of two to help the Aggies escape with the victory.

Cameron opened the game on an 8-0 run over the first three minutes. After trimming the deficit back to four on several occassions, the Mustangs had it down to just a point when Vanbeekum hit a transition three at the 2:58 mark. Cameron closed the half strong outscoring WNMU by six to take a 38-31 halftime lead.

Junior Jon-Reese Woodson (Corpus Christi, TX/Carroll) opened the second half hitting a foul shot and then a fastbreak layup by junior Haneef Vaughn-Wilson (Philadelphia, PA/Constitution) trimmed the lead to four. That's when Cameron found their rhythm on offense going on a 12-0 run to open up a 50-34 lead setting up the near rally by the Mustangs.

JV Long had a big game across the board for Cameron as he led all-scorers with 25 points, making 10-13 from the field. He also grabbed six rebounds, dished out five assists and sent back one block. Elish Benjamin nearly had a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds. Momoh and Zach Dumas rounded out the four in double-figures chipping in 10 points apiece.

Cameron made 31-60 (52) from the field, 7-17 (41) from three and 13-19 (68) from the foul line. WNMU made 27-66 (41) from the field, 7-18 (39) from three and 17-32 (53) from the foul line. WNMU held the edge on points off turnovers (17-12), forcing 16 and committing just 10, along with fastbreak points (24-15). Cameron held a slight edge on second-chance points (8-7) and bench points (24-20), but held a strong 44-32 advantage on point in the paint.

WNMU will now prepare for Senior Day this coming Saturday when they will face Midwestern State starting at 4 p.m. The only senior on the team, Latrell Spivey (Phoenix, AZ/Westview), will be honored before the game.
 
 
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