Hot-shooting Hilltoppers whip ENMU

PORTALES - As the saying goes, live by the 3-pointer, die by it as well.

On Saturday afternoon, St. Edward's came in shooting around 34 percent from distance this season. But the Hilltoppers were on fire almost from the start, hitting 11-of-21 3s in the first half and finishing 14-of-34 in an 85-66 Lone Star Conference men's basketball victory over Eastern New Mexico University at Greyhound Arena.

"We've been living and dying by the 3," 13th-year Hilltoppers coach Andre Cook said. "That's just always been part of our DNA."

Meantime, the Greyhounds (6-9, 2-4 LSC) couldn't get much going, at least not until it was essentially too late. ENMU shot 53 percent in the second half, but just 8-of-25 before the intermission in falling behind 42-24.

Also, for the game the Hounds were 3-of-18 from long distance. It nullified ENMU's stunning 46-26 advantage on the glass.

"I can't remember a game where we outrebounded our opponent by 20 and lost," Hounds coach Brent Owen said. "I'm proud of the effort from out kids, but we've got to be better guarding the 3-point line. Offensively, we've got to take better care of the ball and knock down some shots."

Senior forward Yosnier Cobas, who posted a career-high 25 points, scored three consecutive baskets to stake the Hounds to a 6-2 lead before the floodgates opened. Consecutive 3-pointers by senior guard Uche Dibiamaka, junior forward Mason Hix and junior guard Bennett Mohn kicked off a 17-0 run that gave the Rattlers (9-8, 3-4) control of the game.

ENMU pulled to 24-21 on a fast-break dunk by junior forward Jared Perry, but Dibiamaka - one of three Australians on the roster - hit two more threes to begin to open it up again.

"We came out and made shots," Cook said. "And the game kind of got away from them a little bit."

St. Ed's opened its biggest lead (67-36) with about 11 minutes left. The Hounds made a push to make the score more respectable, but never got closer than 16 points.

For the game, the Hilltoppers committed just seven turnovers compared with 23 for the Hounds. St. Ed's had a 30-13 advantage in points off turnovers.

"We just didn't execute very well," Owen said. "We're just got to work harder on Monday on taking better care of the ball."

Dibiamaka led four Hilltoppers in double digits with 22 points. Senior guard Daniel Venzant and junior guard Bennett Mohn finished with 17 apiece, while Hix added 15.

St. Edward's hadn't won a game on the court since beating Angelo State 96-80 in its LSC opener on Dec. 31. Other than a COVID-related forfeit win over Cameron, the Hilltoppers had gone 0-4 in January.

Cobas and Perry, who had a personal-best 12 points, combined to go 17-of-21 from the floor, including 6-of-6 for Perry, but the rest of the team was just 7-of-34. Sophomore guard Adam Hess added 11 points for ENMU.