Hounds fall at Midwestern State

WICHITA FALLS, Texas — Senior guard Jay January hit three 3-pointers inside the first two minutes and Midwestern State went on to an 88-77 Lone Star Conference men’s basketball victory over Eastern New Mexico University on Saturday night.

January finished 6-of-8 from the 3-point line and shared team scoring honors with Justin James, who recorded a double-double with 13 rebounds. Also reaching double figures for the Indians (15-10, 7-3 South) were Jose Nava with 11 points and Leonard Pralour with 10.

ENMU (9-16, 2-8) was led by 28 points from senior forward Jamaal Hunnicutt and 21 from senior guard Irshaun Pinckney.

Hunnicutt, who fell one point short of his previous career high set earlier this season in an overtime loss to MSU at Greyhound Arena, went 8-for-13 from the floor and converted 12-of-14 free throws.

The Greyhounds dug their way out of the early hole, moving in front 25-24 on a layup by junior Daniel Sherman with 8 1/2 minutes left in the half. They led twice by three points before January tied it with a 3-pointer and James scored on a rebound to put MSU in front for good with under three minutes left in the half.

Eastern stayed close in the first half by shooting 54 percent from the field, despite going 0-for-7 from 3-point range. But the Hounds cooled off in the second half, shooting 38 percent from the field and missing eight of their 21 free throw attempts.

The Indians went on a 7-0 run early in the second half to build a 49-38 lead. ENMU got within nine points several times and chopped it to eight with 5:20 to go on a 3-pointer by senior Edmound Elzy.

James then converted a 3-point play on the Indians’ next trip, and Midwestern eventually built an 86-68 lead with under a minute to go. ENMU cut the margin back with two 3-pointers by Pinckney and another by junior guard Jolen Montoya in the remaining time.