Hounds Drop Heartbreaker to Bulldogs

PORTALES, N.M.—  Junior forward Max Carrier’s (Canyon Lake, Calif./Irvine Valley CC) poured in a career-best 27 points and registered the second double double of his career, but the Eastern New Mexico University men’s basketball team (3-3) dropped a 77-75 heartbreaker to Southwestern Oklahoma State (6-2), in Lone Star Conference Crossover action, Thursday night at Greyhound Arena. The contest marked Carriers’ second 20-point performance and the second in three games.

Eastern controlled the opening half, shooting 53.6 percent and outscoring SW Oklahoma State by a 22-12 margin in the paint. Those advantages allowed the Hounds to roll to a 20-9 lead over the opening 8:44 of the game, seizing their largest lead on a jumper from Carrier with 11:01 left in the opening period. Ross Moore hit back-to-back treys to ignite an 11-2 SWOSU run over the ensuing 4:17, trimming ENMU’s lead to 22-20, with 6:31 left in the half. The Hounds answered with their own 10-2 run, taking a 32-22 edge on Jordan Romero’s (Fr., G, Santa Fe, N.M./St. Michaels HS) jumper with 2:46 on the clock. Over the final minutes, the Bulldogs chipped away at Eastern’s lead, but the Hounds took a 34-28 lead into the locker room.

Southwestern Oklahoma turned things around in the second half, shooting 59.3 percent from the floor and outscoring Eastern by a 28-18 margin in the paint. The Hounds held a 44-35 lead with 15:08 left in the game, when Leon Nelson hit back-to-back dunks to start a 22-2 SWOSU surge over the next 3:57. After trading baskets for several minutes, the Bulldogs held a 68-58 lead, when Stefan Mirabal (Jr., G, Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) and Carrier fueled an 8-0 ENMU run, pulling the Hounds to within a basket, 68-66, with 2:49 left. The teams continued to trade points down the stretch, with Southwestern Oklahoma connecting on seven of their final eight free throws to hold a 77-75 lead with just seven seconds remaining. Victor Reid rebounded a missed free throw from Moore and fired a pass to Maya, who had a potential game-winning three-point attempt hit the rim at the buzzer, before bouncing out of bounds.

Each team scored 40 points in the paint and 26 points off turnovers. Eastern held a 15-9 advantage on second chance points, with a 33-24 edge on the boards, including a 12-9 lead on the offensive glass. The Hounds committed a season-high 22 turnovers, while the Bulldogs had 17 miscues. Carrier had 10 rebounds and three assists, while Mirabal finished with 19 points. Victor Reid (Sr., F, El Paso, Texas/Cochise CC) added seven points and six boards. Nelson paced SWOSU with 22 points.

The Eastern New Mexico University men’s basketball team will continue LSC Crossover play on Saturday, when they host Cameron. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. MST.