Hounds fall to Lopes in exhibition
Oct. 29—PHOENIX — The Eastern New Mexico University men's basketball team got a taste of travel and game experience on Friday, dropping an exhibition game to Division I and Western Athletic Conference preseason favorite Grand Canyon 71-43 before 7,319 fans.
The Greyhounds struggled to score against the Antelopes, shooting just 33 percent from the floor and hitting only 4-of-23 shots from 3-point distance. Defensively, though, they held GCU to a 7-for-27 showing from distance and forced 20 turnovers.
The Lopes led 21-15 in the first half went they went on a 9-0 run to take control. Grand Canyon led 34-20 at the intermission.
Junior guard Greg Johnson was ENMU's lone double-figure scorer, finishing with 12 points. Meantime, guards Jovan Blacksher Jr., Ray Harrison and Josh Baker tallied 14, 12 and 10, respectively, for the Lopes.
ENMU opens the regular campaign Nov. 11-12 in the LSC/RMAC Challenge at New Mexico Highlands, facing Fort Lewis and the host Cowboys, respectively.
Hounds snap scoreless streak, edge Dustdevils — Held scoreless for three weeks and more than 540 minutes of match time, Eastern New Mexico University erupted for three goals in a span of less than 10 minutes in the second half on Wednesday, and it was enough to lift the Greyhounds to a 3-2 Lone Star Conference men's soccer victory over Texas A&M International at Greyhound Stadium.
With the win, the Hounds (5-8-1, 2-6-0 LSC) ended a five-match losing streak dating to a 1-0 triumph over then-No. 8 Midwestern State on Oct. 5 at Greyhound Stadium, a stretch in which they were outscored 15-0. It also lifted them ahead of the Dustdevils (3-8-6, 1-5-2) and out of the league cellar.
It was only the Hounds' second win all-time against International (2-10-2), and broke a five-match losing streak against the Dustdevils since a 2-2 tie in Portales in September 2013. Their only other win in the series came in the third all-time meeting, a 3-2 verdict at Portales in September 2007.
After a scoreless first stanza, ENMU freshman forward Alexander Meres broke the ice just over 3 1/2 minutes into the second half, ending the scoring drought at 546 minutes, 16 seconds. Junior Tajani Faircloth tied it for International at the 53:20 mark, but the Hounds promptly regained the lead when junior forward Jonathan De Motta found the back of the net just 30 seconds later.
Freshman forward Sander Tennessen's goal gave ENMU a seemingly safe 3-1 lead with just under 23 minutes left, but International cut the margin on senior Lassana Diakite's goal at the 68:28 mark and the Hounds held on from there.
ENMU, which revamped its men's soccer program this fall after a two-year hiatus, played only four home matches this season, going 2-2. The Hounds wrap up the campaign on Saturday with a league contest at Oklahoma Christian.
Seema paces ENMU women — Led by senior Lethabo Seema, the Eastern New Mexico University women's cross country team finished third out of four full teams in Wednesday's ASU Blue and Gold Classic, hosted by Angelo State at San Angelo, Texas.
Seema posted a time of 26 minutes, 6.2 seconds for the Greyhounds.
The Hounds had two entries in the men's field, with senior Devis Cheruiyot taking 19th place while junior Ethan Woodrome was 22nd in 29:16.0.
Western New Mexico dominated on both sides, winning the men's team title with a perfect score of 15 and claiming seven of the top nine spots overall. ASU was second in the four-team field with 60 points.
Meantime, the WNMU women posted five of the top eight finishes, tallying 22 points to 33 for Angelo State and 81 for ENMU. Texas-Permian Basin followed at 101.
Individual winners, both from WNMU, were sophomore Elias Perez (26:00.6) for the men and freshman Gracey Lovato (22:59.3) for the women.
ENMU runners close out their season on Saturday in the Lone Star Conference championships, hosted by Midwestern State at Wichita Falls, Texas.
