SILVER CITY, N.M. - The Western New Mexico University Men's Basketball team hosted Park University Gilbert on Saturday afternoon. After a slow first half the Mustangs would buckle with an impressive second half comeback, defeating the Buccaneers 70-57.

"The game takes what it takes, and you can never cheat the game or try and be different because of who your opponent is," said Head Coach Zane Gibson. "You have to play the right way all the time or you can put yourself in bad position like we did in the first half."

Three Mustangs managed to score in double-figures. DJ Heath (Anniston, AL/) led the Mustang offense with 17 points on 6-12 shooting splits. Emmanuel White (Katy, TX/) chipped in 16 points, including four threes. Tony Avalos (Las Cruces, NM/Onate HS) added 10 points on 5-11 from the field.

Points in the paint and production from the bench proved to be the difference makers for the Mustangs. The Mustangs scored 32 points in the paint, doubling the Buccaneers who could only manage 16 points. The Mustang bench provided 15 points compared the Buccaneers 4 points.

The Buccaneers managed to win the turnover battle on the Mustangs 13 to 14.

On the glass Olamide Pedersen (Bronshoj, Denmark/Sunrise Christian Academy) lead the Mustangs with a game-high 10 rebounds. Isaiah Lewis (Mansfield, TX/) managed to pull down seven boards. Jaylin McFadden (Rockford, IL/) added 6. Heath did a nice a job distributing the ball as he finished with five assists.

Avalos managed to record three steals on the night. Pedersen had an impressive night protecting the rim for the Mustangs. He would finish with six blocks.

In the first half the Mustangs shot a dreadful 21% clip, including 12% from three-point range. WNMU would finish the game shooting 38% from the field and 30% from beyond the arc. The Buccaneers managed to shoot 34% from the field and 26% from three.

"Luckily we woke up in the second half and found a way to win," said Gibson.

WNMU went into halftime trailing the Buccaneers 41-18. In the second half a different Mustang team took the court. The Mustangs, lead by Heath would outscore the Buccaneers 52-16 in the second half for a 70-57 victory over the Buccaneers.

"We started doing what is required to win a basketball game," said Gibson. "We started guarding, we started boxing out, and we started sharing the ball."

Three Buccaneers managed to score double digits on the Mustangs. LC Ballard led all scored with 22 points, including 3-6 from the beyond the arc. Zrebric Humphrey chipped in 13 points and six rebounds. Vincent cook added 10 points and eight boards.

"Give Park credit, they came out and took it to us right away with their energy," said Gibson.

Top Mustangs:
DJ Heath (Anniston, AL/): 17 pts, 5 ast, (6-12 FGs)
Emmanuel White (Katy, TX/): 16 pts, 4 Threes
Tony Avalos (Las Cruces, NM/Onate HS): 10 pts, (5-11 FGs)
Olamide Pedersen (Bronshoj, Denmark/Sunrise Christian Academy): 6 pts, 10 reb, 6 blk

The Mustangs will be back in action on Nov. 22^nd in Phoenix, Ariz. against Western Oregon University (12:30 PM MT) for a neutral site competition.