Hounds fall in second exhibition tilt 87-57

PHOENIX – In two preseason trips to Arizona, Eastern New Mexico University’s men have taken their lumps. First-year coach Daven Vo hopes the Greyhounds can learn from the experience.

Transfers JaKobe Coles (TCU) and Makaih Williams (Texas-Arlington) combined for 37 points on Tuesday night, leading five players in double figures, and defending Western Athletic Conference champion Grand Canyon cruised to an 87-57 exhibition victory over the Greyhounds.

Last week, the Hounds lost at No. 10 Arizona 117-54. They open the 2023-24 regular campaign on Nov. 8 in a South Central Region crossover event at Durango, Colo., facing host Fort Lewis in their first game of the two-day event.

“Our guys competed so hard,” Vo said. “It just didn’t go our way. I was really proud that they faced adversity and they stayed together. That’s what I want our identity to be – that we’re tough.”

Coles tallied 19 points, nine rebounds, two blocked shots and a steal in 24 minutes, going 3-of-5 from 3-point distance, while Williams was perfect from the field (7-of-7, including four 3s) and finished with 18 points off the bench.

The Lopes were 30-5 last season, posted a 75-66 first-round NCAA tournament upset of fifth-seeded Saint Mary’s and return five of their top six players. Coles, a 6-foot-8 senior forward, and Williams, a 6-2 sophomore guard who earned WAC freshman of the year honors last season for league rival UTA, only figure to add to the mix.

Junior guard Cooper Jackson scored 13 points for ENMU, shooting 6-of-10 from the field and leading the team to 37 bench points, while senior guard Cougar Downing added 11.

Down 18-5 after six minutes, the Hounds answered with an 8-0 run and kept the contest within single digits for much of the half before a late surge pushed the Lopes’ advantage to 44-26 at the intermission.

Despite their deficit, ENMU outrebounded the taller Lopes 23-18 in the half, including 10 offensive caroms. For the game, GCU finished with a 44-42 advantage on the boards.

“I was happy (with) how our guys attacked the glass,” Vo said.

ENMU had 20 turnovers and shot just 32 percent from the floor (23-of-71), including 3-of-20 from distance, but limited the Lopes to 42 percent (27-of-64) while forcing 14 mechanical errors. Grand Canyon had a big advantage at the foul line, sinking 24-of-31 compared to 8-of-15 for the Hounds.