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Western New Mexico University Athletics

Western New Mexico University Athletics
CJ Vanbeekum
Jay Hemphill, WNMU
81
Winner Western N.M. WNMU 5-16,4-8 Lone Star
76
Eastern N.M. EastNM 6-13,6-8 Lone Star
Winner
Western N.M. WNMU
5-16,4-8 Lone Star
81
Final
76
Eastern N.M. EastNM
6-13,6-8 Lone Star
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Western N.M. WNMU 42 39 81
Eastern N.M. EastNM 45 31 76

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Men's Basketball Steal Win Over Greyhounds in Portales

PORTALES, N.M. – In an ongoing rivalry of East and West, the West prevailed Saturday afternoon stealing a win from cross state Eastern New Mexico in Greyhound Arena. The Mustangs put together 39 points in the second half to overcome their halftime deficit, and steal the win, splitting the season series with the Greyhounds.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
Elijah Holifield (Atlanta, GA/Pace Academy) – 23 PTS | 8-17 FG | 3-6 3PTR | 4-4 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 1 BLK | 1 STL
Tony Avalos (Las Cruces, NM/Onate) – 15 PTS | 6-11 FG | 2-2 FT | 4 REB | 2 AST | 1 BLK | 1 STL
CJ Vanbeekum (Phoenix, AZ/Paradise) – 14 PTS | 6-12 FG | 5 REB | 4 AST | 1 STL
Malik Sanders (Durham, NC/Smithfield-Selma ) – 12 PTS | 4-4 FT | 9 REB | 8 AST | 1 STL

HOW IT HAPPENED:
  • Rodney Simon (Boston, MA/Randolph ) was the first to get on the board for WNMU, tallying all five the Mustangs points in the first two minutes of play.
  • A pair of three pointer by the Greyhounds gave them a six point advantage, which they would maintain up until the seven minute mark.
  • At the charity stripe, Tony Avalos (Las Cruces, NM/Onate) helped his team close the gap, and go up by one.
  • Both teams put up a wall against the other with under five minutes to play in the first half. Elijah Holifield (Atlanta, GA/Pace Academy) found the basket from behind the arc for the final WNMU basket of the half.
  • One final free throw put the Greyhounds up by three as they went into the break.
  • After tying the game a couple of times to start the second half, ENMU went on an 8-0 run to retake the lead at 57-49.
  • Under the half way point, WNMU was issued a technical foul sparking a last minute surge by the Mustangs.
  • Tony Avalos (Las Cruces, NM/Onate) got things started with a pullup jumper, followed by a block on a three point attempt to setup a pair of free throws from Elijah Holifield (Atlanta, GA/Pace Academy).
  • At 2:35, Eastern sunk their free throw attempts for a short lived lead as none other than Holifield found the net in the following possession to retake the lead.
  • WNMU benefitted from ENMU fouls, finding themselves at the line with seconds remaining. Malik Sanders (Durham, NC/Smithfield-Selma ) went 4-for-4 at the charity stripe with just 15 seconds remaining to seal the 81-76 victory.
  • Despite having less than half of the opportunities at the foul line than the Greyhounds, the Mustangs went 14-of-15 (93%) to their opponents 26-of-36 (72%).
UP NEXT:
The team will return home next weekend, playing host to newcomers University of Arkansas Fort Smith and Oklahoma Christian. Thursday's contest against the Lions of UAFS is slated for a 7:30 p.m. start time. Saturday against the Eagles of OCU will begin at 4 p.m. MST.
 
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