Hounds Drop Heartbreaker at Fort Lewis in Final Minute

DURANGO, COLO.. — Junior forward Max Carrier (Canyon, Lake, Calif./Irvine Valley CC) poured in a season-high 20 points, but the Eastern New Mexico University men’s basketball team (2-1) sufferered their first loss of the season, 88-82, against Fort Lewis College (1-0) Friday at the Whalen Athletic Center.

Eastern took the lead 11 seconds into the contest on a layup from Tyler Jefferson (Sr., F, Fort Worth, Texas/North Crowley HS/Tyler JC) and maintained the advantage for most of the half, taking a 400-36 edge into the locker room. The Skyhawks took control of the second half, building an 11-point lead, 71-60, with 8:42 left on Connor Drum’s layup.

Fort Lewis maintained the 11-point margin, holding a73-62 lead with 7:01 left, when Victor Reid’s (Sr., F, El Paso, Texas/Cochise CC) trey sparked a 20-5 Greyhound run, capped by a Stefan Mirabal (Jr., G, Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) trey, giving the Hounds an 82-78 edge with 2:35 to play. The Skyhawks closed the game on a 10-0 run, scoring seven of those points from the free throw line.

Fort Lewis shot 57.1 percent from the floor, while Eastern connected on 47.6 percent of its shots. Each team finished with 17 turnovers, but the Skyhawks held a 14-19 edge in points off turnovers. Reid added 16 points, while Aaron Edwards (Jr., F, Long Beach, Calif./San Bernardino Valley College) chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds.

The Eastern New Mexico University men’s basketball team will conclude their Colorado road trip on Saturday evening against University of Colorado-Colorado Springs. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. MST.