Arizona tops Hounds in exhibition tilt

TUCSON, Ariz. — Like their female counterparts, the Eastern New Mexico University men’s basketball team got a rough baptism into the 2021-22 season on Monday night, falling to Arizona 96-50 in the team’s only preseason exhibition contest.

ENMU’s women ventured into Tucson last Thursday and were handed an 84-25 setback by the homestanding Wildcats.

In Monday’s tilt, the Hounds took a quick 3-0 lead on a 3-pointer by junior guard JaQuan Morris, but Arizona ripped off the next six points, then went on a 7-0 tear to open a 13-5 margin at the first media timeout.

ENMU was still within seven points after about eight minutes, but Arizona steadily pulled away from there. The Wildcats led 50-31 at halftime, and outscored the Hounds 46-19 in the second stanza.

Eleven of 15 players in uniform scored for the Pac-12 Wildcats, including five in double figures. Freshman guard Bennedict Mathurin led the way with 18 points, while 7-foot-1 junior center Christian Koloko added 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting and collected a double-double with 10 rebounds.

Also for Arizona, senior guard Justin Kier went 4-for-6 from 3-point range and finished with 14 points, while junior forward Kim Aiken Jr. also had 14 and freshman forward Azuolas Tubelis chipped in 10.

ENMU’s lone double-figure scorer was junior guard James Jordan with 13 points, including a trio of 3-point baskets.

Arizona shot 50 percent from the floor to 29 percent for the Hounds, and posted a 53-33 margin on the glass.

The Hounds open the regular season in the LSC/RMAC conference challenge, meeting Fort Lewis on Nov. 12 and New Mexico Highlands the following day in 1 p.m.. starts at The Pit in Albuquerque.

Meantime, ENMU’s women have two more exhibitions this week — tonight against the University of New Mexico and on Saturday in a 5 p.m. start against Northern New Mexico at Greyhound Arena. They also open the season in the LSC/RMAC Conference Challenge, facing Fort Lewis at 5 p.m. on Nov. 12 and Highlands at 4 p.m. the following day at Western New Mexico University in Silver City.