LAS VEGAS, N.M. — Western NM (2-1) defeated New Mexico Highlands University (0-2) 82-62 on Saturday at John A. Wilson Complex. The Mustangs scored 51 points in the second half and finished with a 43-37 rebounding edge.
The Mustangs made eight more field goals than N.M. Highlands despite both teams taking 62 shots, including an 8-for-20 mark from 3-point range compared with 2-for-13 for the home team. The Mustangs also finished with advantages in rebounds, 43-37, and assists, 11-4, while both teams committed 17 turnovers.
Tanner Poeschl (Fountain Hills, AZ/Skyline High School) put the Mustangs on the board with an offensive-rebound jumper, and
Jeremy Pierro's (Fresno, CA/East High School) 3-pointer off an
Andre Harris (Mesa, AZ/Hillcrest Prep) assist later gave the Mustangs a 5-2 lead in the first half. The Mustangs built the margin to 13-6 on baskets by Harris,
Ejay Scroggins (South Phoenix, AZ/McClintock High School) and
NoNo Brown (Gilbert, AZ/Perry High School), but N.M. Highlands answered with six straight points to get within 13-12. The Mustangs responded with Pierro's layup, Harris' two free throws, a
Mason Marsh (Rocklin, CA/Whitney High School) steal that led to a Pierro free throw, and Harris layup to move ahead 20-12 before Terrance Ramirez hit a 3-pointer for N.M. Highlands.
Tim Mikhailov (Mogileu, Belarus/North Texas Central Academy) added a steal and fast-break dunk, Pierro connected again from 3-point range, and the Mustangs led by as many as 13 before N.M. Highlands scored late to make it 31-23 at halftime.
Keylon Dorsey (Houston, TX/Eisenhower High School) opened the second half with 3-pointers on the Mustangs' first two scoring possessions, both off Harris assists, pushing the lead to 37-23 before Harris' two free throws made it 39-25 at 18:22. N.M. Highlands worked back through Ashton Price, Alex McCray and Javon Ervin, but the Mustangs kept answering with a Brown layup,
Caleb Carr's (Las Cruces, NM/Las Cruces High School) tip-in and Pierro's 3-pointer plus free throw for a 50-36 lead at 11:32. After Xavier Perry and Handy Toussaint III scored for N.M. Highlands, Scroggins scored inside, Dorsey hit a transition 3-pointer at 10:08 and the Mustangs later moved to 62-43 on Marsh's layup and free throw and Dorsey's dunk. N.M. Highlands got the score to 66-55 on Nate Sasser III's jumper at 4:55, but the Mustangs closed with baskets from Brown, Dorsey, Félix De Almeida and Scroggins to finish an 82-62 win.
Dorsey scored 16 points, hit four 3-pointers and collected six rebounds. Brown finished with 14 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals. Pierro added 13 points with three 3-pointers. Scroggins posted 12 points and six rebounds, including four offensive boards.
Ashton Price scored 11 points and collected seven rebounds. Handy Toussaint III added 10 points with seven rebounds, including four offensive boards. Terrance Ramirez finished with nine points, three steals and two assists. Prince Ojukwu grabbed seven rebounds and added a block and a steal.
The Mustangs are 2-1 overall. N.M. Highlands is 0-2 overall.
Up next, the Mustangs host N.M. Highlands on Friday, Nov. 20, at 5 p.m. at Drag's Court in Silver City, N.M.
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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 (X, TikTok & Instagram).
