Tarleton loss puts Hounds in must-win situation

STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Eastern New Mexico University is down to its last chance to qualify for the Lone Star Conference tournament.

Riding a dominant inside game, Tarleton State beat Eastern 81-64 Thursday in a Lone Star Conference South men’s, putting the Greyhounds in a must win situation in Saturday’s season finale at Midwestern State.

Eastern and Midwestern State are tied for the fourth and final LSC South postseason playoff berth.

Senior Nic Gamble scored 22 points as Tarleton State (21-5, 11-0 LSC South) state unbeaten in division play.

The Texans, who racked up their 20th straight home victory, claimed the division title Wednesday thanks to a loss by West Texas A&M, but Tarleton head coach Lonn Reisman is pleased with his own team’s accomplishments this season.

“We have a very unselfish team, and we are going to do whatever it takes to win,” Reisman said. “I can’t say enough about how our guys play the game and get the ball to each other. Coach Scanlan does a great job coaching, and his team always plays hard. We won tonight because of team effort. I have 12 starters, and the way they play, I am very pleased with them.”

Tristan Largent led Eastern (11-15, 5-6) with 17 points and Stephen Wilson added 10. Largent led the squad with six rebounds.

Tarleton rattled off a 13-2 run to take a 29-16 lead with a little more than three minutes left in the first half.

The Texans kept the lead to double digits, increasing the lead to 18 on two occasions in the first eight minutes of the second half. A 15-0 Tarleton State run ended any hope of a Greyhounds’ comeback.