SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University Men's Basketball team hosted Angelo State on Saturday afternoon, looking to avenge a previous loss. The Mustangs took the Rams to overtime, but would fall, 98-91.
This puts the Mustangs at 3-15 (1-12).
Five Mustangs managed double-digits on the Rams. The Mustangs leading scorers,
Cortaviaus Seales (Rock Island, IL/North Scott High School) and
Aaron Miller (Queens Village, NY/Benjamin Cardozo High School) scored 15 points each.
Prosper Obidiebube (Houston, TX/Aspire Academy) and
Jordan Williams (Pensacola, FL/J. M. Tate High School) added 14 points.
LaMarqus Merchant Jr. (Utica, NY/Utica Academy of Science) was good for 12.
A disparity in free throw attempts and the three point shot would be the biggest advantages for the Rams. The Mustangs would outscore the Rams 50-26 in the paint.
WNMU's bench played a big factor as well, with a 56-13 advantage.
Mustangs shot 15-25 (60%) from the field and 4-7 (57%) from deep in the first half. WNMU finished the game shooting 34-69 (49%) and 6-16 (37%) from three. ASU would shoot 31-71 (43%) from the field and 11-25 (44%) from behind the arc for the game.
At the charity stripe WNMU went 17-21 (81%) and International shot 25-31 (80%).
On the boards, Obidiebube grabbed 11 rebounds to give him a double-double on the afternoon. Seales was the main floor general tonight with eight assists.
In the defensive department, Merchant and
James McCallum (Long Beach, CA./St. Bernard's High School) had a steal apiece.
Donovan Black (Las Cruces, NM/Del Valle High School) and
Tanner Vogel (Stratham, Australia/Georgiana Molloy Anglican School) locked down the paint with two blocks each.
The Mustangs began the first half getting up early on the Rams, 11-6. WNMU would extend the lead to as many as 10 points in the first half, going into the locker leading 38-34.
In the second half the Mustangs would control the game early. However, the Rams would not go away, as they would slowly chip away and take the lead from the Mustangs. A Seales shot at the buzzer would not drop sending the game to overtime tied at 84. In Overtime, the Rams took the lead fast and never looked back, winning 98-91.
Keyshawn Embery-Simpson scored a game-high 32 points for the Rams. Willie Guy added 21 and 17 came from Trey Farrer.
Top Mustangs:
Cortaviaus Seales (Rock Island, IL/North Scott High School): 15 pts, 8 asts
Aaron Miller (Queens Village, NY/Benjamin Cardozo High School): 15 pts, 1 highligh dunk
Prosper Obidiebube (Houston, TX/Aspire Academy): 14 pts, 11 rebs
Jordan Williams (Pensacola, FL/J. M. Tate High School): 14 pts, 2-4 3FGs
The Mustangs will be back in action February 8th at Cameron University (6:30 PM MT).
This game recap is presented by First American Bank. First American Bank is a proud supporter of WNMU Athletics!

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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, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok & Instagram)