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Western New Mexico University Athletics

Western New Mexico University Athletics
Elijah Holifield
93
Western N.M. WNMU 6-18,4-11 Lone Star
101
Winner St. Mary's (TX) SMU-TX 11-13,7-11 Lone Star
Western N.M. WNMU
6-18,4-11 Lone Star
93
Final
101
St. Mary's (TX) SMU-TX
11-13,7-11 Lone Star
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Western N.M. WNMU 58 35 93
St. Mary's (TX) SMU-TX 49 52 101

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Holifield Records His Second Thirty Point Game Against St Mary's

SAN ANTONIO, TEX. – On the road for the final time this season, the Mustang men's basketball team took on the Rattlers of St. Mary's Thursday night in Bill Greehey Arena.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
Tony Avalos (Las Cruces, NM/Onate) - 17 PTS | 5-10 FG | 7-9 FT | 4 AST
Elijah Holifield (Atlanta, GA/Pace Academy) – 33 PTS | 12-16 FG | 7-11 3FG | 2 REB | 2 AST
Rodney Simon (Boston, MA/Randolph ) – 12 PTS | 6-6 FG
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Just as he has done in the past, Elijah Holifield (Atlanta, GA/Pace Academy) got things started with a three point basket. From then on the Mustangs would stay a few steps ahead of the Rattlers for most of the half. Just when St. Mary's tied it up at 20, Holifield sank another three pointer to help keep his team in front. In the following possessions, he could not miss adding another six points to his total with a couple more threes.
After leading for most of the half, the home team used a three of their own to take their first lead of the game at 39-37. Short lived, WNMU quickly answered with nine points to go up 46-39. Just as the game has started, Holifield capped off the first half with a jumper, sending the team to the locker room leading by nine.
By the end of the half, Holifield had tallied 28 points, going 11-for-15 from the floor, and 6-for-9 behind the arc.
Out of the break, it was St. Mary's who opened play with a three pointer, sparking a 14-2 run to pull ahead just five minutes in. Chipping in four points a piece were Tony Avalos (Las Cruces, NM/Onate) and Cj Vanbeekum, aiding in the comeback that put WNMU back on top. WNMU led by as many as seven in the second half.
As the teams his the five minute mark, St. Mary's turned it up a notch. A series of free throws gave way to a nine point advantage for the Rattlers, which was all they needed to close out the game 101-93.
Scanning the stat sheet, the teams were pretty evenly matched. WNMU shot an efficient 61.8 % from the field, and was 10-for-21 behind the arc. The difference maker though was on the defensive end, St. Mary's pulled down 44 rebounds to the Mustangs 17 on the night.
Holifield finished the night eclipsing thirty points, his second thirty point game this season.
UP NEXT:
The road trip continues on to Austin, where the Mustangs will meet up with the ranked St. Edward's Hilltoppers. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m. CST, Saturday Feb. 15.
 
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