SILVER CITY, N.M. — The WNMU Mustangs (11-4, 5-3 Lone Star) steamrolled Cameron University (6-10, 3-5 Lone Star) with a commanding 70-44 win on Thursday night at Drag's Court. Dominating the paint, Western New Mexico racked up 38 points while holding the Aggies to just 14.
Western New Mexico came out swinging in the first half, setting the tone with a relentless offensive drive and physical play inside. The Mustangs found their rhythm early, attacking the paint and capitalizing on turnovers and second-chance opportunities. Tanner Poeschl (Fountain Hills, AZ/Skyline High School) and Isaiah Broady (Chandler, AZ/Arizona Compass Prep) were pivotal in establishing the early advantage, crashing the boards and scoring efficiently around the rim.
"We knew we needed this game and every conference game moving forward," said Head Coach Mark Bunker. "We wanted to set the tone on defense and we did that tonight. If we can bring this kind of juice every game, we will be a tough team to beat."
On the defensive end, the Mustangs were locked in from the opening tip, forcing Cameron into tough shots and repeated turnovers while controlling the rebounding battle. Western NM's pressure defense stifled the Aggies throughout the half, building a 30-13 advantage at the break.
The Mustangs picked up right where they left off in the second half, extending their lead with sharp shooting and continued defensive intensity. Keylon Dorsey (Houston, TX/Eisenhower High School) knocked down multiple three-pointers during a decisive run, while Nolan Brown fueled the defense with five steals, consistently turning stops into scoring opportunities. Judah Casaus (Albuquerque, NM/Del Norte High School) energized the home crowd with a fast-break dunk at the 5:55 mark, further stretching the lead and igniting Drag's Court. Casaus finished with a game-high 12 points on an efficient 5-of-6 shooting performance.
"Judah is such a great teammate and player that made a lot of big plays for us tonight," Bunker said. "He showed his resilience tonight by being ready to go and definitely made a big impact for us."
Trenton Gordon (Aurora, IL/Duluth High School) facilitated the offense throughout the night, delivering timely assists as the Mustangs maintained control and closed out the 70-44 victory. Poeschl led Western New Mexico with 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting, while Broady recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds and four points. James McCallum (Long Beach, CA./St. Bernard's High School) added two blocks and four rebounds to anchor the defensive effort.
The Mustangs also benefited from a strong home atmosphere, as Drag's Court once again provided a noticeable edge. "The crowd was awesome again tonight," Bunker said. "Having a loud and supportive crowd like that gives us a great advantage when we play at home. Our guys feed off the energy and it was great for us tonight."
Western New Mexico returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 17, when it hosts Oklahoma Christian at 2 p.m. at Drag's Court in Silver City, N.M.
***
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 (X, TikTok & Instagram).
