Hounds thump Mustangs 101-72

Eastern New Mexico University's men broke the century barrier for the second game in a row on Saturday, but the result was much different.

Playing with more passion on the defensive end, the Greyhounds scored the game's first 10 points, weathered a brief run by Western New Mexico and then rolled to a 101-72 Lone Star Conference victory at Steve Loy Arena.

It came on the heels of a puzzling 110-101 setback against last-place Sul Ross State two nights earlier.

"Our guys responded (after the loss)," ENMU coach Daven Vo said. "Every time we've lost this year, they've bounced back."

Junior forward Jose Murillo led the charge with 23 points, seven rebounds, two blocks and a season-best four assists. Senior forward Mario Whitley posted his second consecutive double-double and eighth of the campaign – tied for the most in the LSC – with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

"We saw our mistakes from the last game, and we tried to learn from them," said Murillo, a native of Chihuahua, Mexico. "We learned not to lose our heads."

ENMU (11-6, 6-5 LSC) held the Mustangs (3-14, 2-9) off the scoreboard for the first 5 ½ minutes. After Western pulled to 27-23 on a 3-pointer by senior guard Matthew Okoye with 6 ½ minutes left in the half, the Hounds scored the next eight points and stayed in front by double digits after that.

"It was a really good game," said the 6-foot-9 Murillo, who shot 9-for-12 from the field, including several dunks, and is the top five in NCAA Division II in field goal percentage at 71 percent. "I have success just because of my teammates. They make the plays."

For the game, the Hounds shot 58 percent (37-of-64), including 8-of-16 on 3s, and were over 60 percent until the final two minutes. Senior guard Cougar Downing and freshman guard Mo Austin added 14 points apiece, while sophomore guard Austin Abrams scored 10.

ENMU's biggest lead was 33 points (80-47) with 8 ½ minutes left. Freshman guard Johnathan Lyons Jr. put them over the 100 mark on two free throws with 38 seconds to go.

"It was just our night," Vo said. "They (Hounds) played so well. Everything they did seemed to lead to 'and-1s' and 3s."

Okoye led the Mustangs with 31 points, including six 3s and 9-of-9 from the line, but no one else had more than 11 points for WNMU. The Mustangs shot just 31 percent overall (21-of-67).

ENMU begins a four-game road swing this week, playing at Texas-Tyler on Thursday night and at Dallas Baptist on Saturday afternoon.

Vo knows his team will be challenged over the next couple of weeks.

"Road games are just crazy in our league," he said. "We've got to string some wins together to try to move back up in the conference."

Western New Mexico 81, ENMU 76 (women) – On Thursday, it was the men's team which dropped one to a previously winless conference foe in Sul Ross State. Saturday, it was the women's turn.

For most of the day, the Hounds struggled to gain any separation. Finally, they went on a 13-2 run early in the third frame to build a 41-31 advantage.

It didn't last. The Mustangs (1-14, 1-10) rallied back to lead by four at period's end, then used a 9-for-12 showing from the field and an 11-for-14 effort from the foul line to pull away to a 10-point lead in the final minute.

Down three players to injury, ENMU (12-5, 7-4) survived it on Thursday in a 98-78 win over Sul Ross State, but the Hounds couldn't repeat it on Saturday.

Sophomore guard Jaelyn Morrison scored 16 points for WNMU, leading four players in double figures. Sophomore forward Savannah Wilson and freshman guard Alina Martin added 12 points apiece, and freshman guard Natalie Magallanes had 11.

Shooting just 34 percent from the floor for the season coming into the weekend, the Mustangs went 30-of-61 in this one and also knocked down 19-of-23 free throws, well above their season's average of 68 percent.

Meantime, the Hounds shot only 35 percent (25-of-72) and hit just 18-of-31 foul shots. Junior guard Nataya Lockett set a personal best for the second game in a row with 26 points for ENMU, while freshman guard Abbi Holder chipped in 11.

ENMU plays at Texas-Tyler on Thursday and at Texas Woman's on Saturday.