Brotherly love (and war)

PORTALES — Strictly business.

Brothers Devin and Devante Pullum will square-off for the second (and likely final) time in their collegiate careers, when Eastern New Mexico hosts the Midwestern State men's basketball team tonight at 7:30.

Devin, a freshman point guard for the Greyhounds, will go up against older brother Devante, a senior point guard for MSU. In their first meeting on Jan. 13, Devante scored 15 points to lead his Mustangs (now 9-16, 5-10 Lone Star Conference) to an 89-87 overtime win over Devin (12 points) and his Greyhounds (10-13, 5-9).

But while the two consider each other to be best of friends in a close-knit family, don't get it twisted — they're rivals at tipoff.

"It means a lot (to play Devante)," Devin said. "That's like my best friend right there. But on the court, it's like business. It don't matter who I'm playing. When we step on to the court, we're competitors. But, it means a lot to my family and I know they're excited."

Their first meeting in Wichita Falls, Texas turned out such a large crowd Devante saw people that he hadn't seen since age 6 or 7, leading him to refer to that first matchup as more of a "family reunion."

Because the drive to Portales will be much further for relatives, expect the turnout to be a little bit more low key, as Devin and Devante's parents (Carlos and Radiah) — along with Devante's fiancee, Kaitlyn Kent — are the only family members guaranteed to be at Greyhound Arena.

Every game is important in the LSC, but participants will admit that this one takes on more meaning.

"I think it's kind of the old sports adage, 'Try to keep the preparation the same," Greyhounds coach Tres Segler said. "Devin said that he tried to stop answering a lot of texts because his family was the ones reaching out to him and Devante. So he cut off all of social media, which I thought was pretty impressive for a freshman."

Devante too had to eliminate the distractions, and normally limits contact with family in the days leading up to a game. In fact, Devante said that he and Devin won't even talk to each other all week.

Segler, a former Midwestern State assistant and alumnus, has just as great of a relationship with Devante as he does Devin. In fact, Tres' own father, Rusty, coached both Pullum brothers in Little Elm, Texas.

"Never once have I ever hugged my opponents after a game or taken pictures with them," Devante said. "But it's different with (Devin and Tres). Segs is marrying me and my fiancee, and his dad was my high school coach, plus, you add Devin on top of that. (All of those things) makes this game even more intense."

Oddly, Devin and Devante said they've never played each other in one-on-one pickup basketball, always preferring to play with one another.

Devante said he tried to be as much a father figure to Devin as a brother.

Devin is averaging 9.4 points and 1.8 assists per game. Devante is currently 12th in the LSC at 13.3 ppg.

"It's just a lot of things that I would watch him do," Devin said of Devante. "I saw him overcome lots of adversity and how he handled that. He played quarterback in high school, so I learned a lot from him in both football and basketball. I saw how he carried himself, and how he treated people the right way."

As for how he's improved as a college player, Devin says, "I'd say defensively, but also, I've developed a tougher mindset. I didn't expect this (sort of success right away) but I wasn't surprised when it happened. I've been growing more as a leader."

Both teams are fighting for positioning in the LSC playoff race, with ENMU in sixth and Midwestern State in eighth. The tournament is an eight-team, single-elimination bracket, so a third Pullum battle would require at least one bracket upset by each squad.

"It's kind of like bittersweet, because I'd rather have him on my team," Devante explained. "But it brings back memories and it's an honor to play against him. I want to see him do great tonight, but I kinda don't at the same time. But after the game, he's still my brother, and I love him no matter what."