Silver City, NM - Monday night, Western New Mexico University Men's Basketball team played NAIA school University of the Southwest, defeating them 78-69.

WNMU has the best start in recent history after tonight's win, starting the season off 5-0.

The Mustangs didn't play to their best ability tonight having 22 fouls and 14 turnovers. WNMU was also out rebounded 37-35.

WNMU's offense began to click in the second half. The team shot 50% and 82.4% from the free throw line. Jordan Doss (Chicago, Ill./Chicago Hope Academy), Tony Avalos (Las Cruces, NM/Onate HS), and Amarion Cash (Phoenix, AZ/Mountain Pointe HS) were a huge part of the success, with all three scoring in the double-digits.

Doss, who has been averaging 20pts a game, bucketed 18 tonight. Avalos ended the night with 16pts and Cash put up 11pts.

After the first half, WNMU led 30-28. WNMU was 13-34, shooting just 38.2% on the floor. The Mustangs shot 25% beyond the arc, going 4-16. 

Fouls hurt both teams as each team had 22 fouls. WNMU capitalized shooting 76.2% from the free throw line. In the second half, the Mustangs were 14-16 at the line. 

WNMU ended the night with 44 of their 78 points in the paint. 22 points came off of the fast break.

WNMU was out rebound 37 to 35. Malik Johnson (Wytheville, Virginia/George Wythe High School), Olamide Pederson, and Ian Hohenstein (Veracruz, Mexico/Faith Christian Academy) were the Mustangs rebounding leaders. Johnson had 7 and Pederson and Hohenstein boarded 6. 

USW had three players score in the double-digits. Jeremiah Toney had 18pts, Brandon Meadows had 13pts, and Ladarrius Spears bucketed 12pts.
 

PLAYERS TO HIGHLIGHT:

J. Doss: 18pts, 5 reb, 1 blk, 2 stl

T. Avalos: 16pts, 4 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl

A. Cash: 11pts, 4 reb, 2 ast,  1 stl

M. Johnson: 9pts, 7 reb, 3 ast, 4 stl

The Mustangs will hit the road, going to Cameron University Thursday, Dec. 2nd and West Texas Dec. 7th.

This game recap is presented by First American Bank. First American Bank is a proud supporter of WNMU Athletics!  

*** 

 Western New Mexico University is a member of the NCAA Division II, and the Lone Star Conference (LSC). For additional information regarding Mustang Athletics, visit www.wnmumustangs.com; visit wnmu.edu for more information about Western New Mexico University. Follow the Mustangs on social media: @WNMUathletics (Twitter & I