Turnbow Helps Rally Hounds Close out Season Opener Against Eagles

PORTALES, N.M. —   With the Eastern New Mexico University basketball team (1-0) holding a slim three-point lead with 3:03 left to play, freshman forward Logan Turnbow (Clovis, N.M./Clovis HS) drew a charging foul, then put back an offensive rebound, helping power the Greyhounds to an 81-76 victory over visiting Northern New Mexico (0-2) in the season opener at Greyhound Arena. The Hounds rallied from deficits of eight and seven points, without seven of their players to win their second straight season opener.

Mario Caetano’s jumper 1:03 into the game sparked an 11-3 NNM run over the opening 2:03 of play, but a Michael Maya (Fr., G, Chandler, Ariz./Valley HS) jumper ignited the ENMU offense for a 12-3 run, with the Hounds taking their first lead of the game, 15-14, on an Aaron Edwards (Jr., F, Long Beach, Calif. / Gardena HS/San Bernardino Valley College) dunk. After a time out by the Eagles, NNM built an 18-15 lead, but a 10-4 Greyhound run over the next 3:11, capped by an Edward jumper staked ENMU to a 25-22 edge. The teams traded baskets, with Eastern clinging to a 27-26 lead, when a Versia Hodges (Jr., G, Los Angeles, Calif./Don Antonio Lugo HS/Mt. San Antonio JC) trey sparked a 7-0 Greyhound run, ballooning the Hounds’ advantage to 34-26, with 2:32 left in the half. ENMU maintained the advantage and took a 38-30 lead into the locker room.

Edwards blocked a Steven Eldrige shot as the second half opened and hit a fast break jumper to extend the Hounds’ lead, but the Eagles went on a 15-5 run over the next 4:20 to knot the score at 45-all on Billy Grayson’s jump shot. The Hounds quickly regained the advantage, building a 53047 lead, but Clarence Rivas scored seven consecutive points to fuel a 13-0 Northern New Mexico surge, as the Eagles took a 60-53 lead on Eldridge’s layup with 11:02 left in the game.

About 30 seconds later, Hodge’s trey sparked Eastern on an 11-2 run, with the Hounds seizing a 64-62 lead with 7:27 to play. The score would be tied three more times, the final coming at 72-all, before Stefan Mirabal’s (Jr., G, Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) three-point bucket gave ENMU the lead for good. Just 1:06 later, Turnbow drew a charge from NNM’s Mario Caetano, before rebounding a shot from Maya and scoring to give ENMU a five-point lead with 1:35 remaining.

The Greyhounds converted 18 offensive rebounds into a 16-9 edge in second-chance points and held a 20-8 advantage in fast break points. Hodges paced ENMU with 29 points, while Edwards registered 16 points, 18 rebounds, three steals, two assists and a block. Mirabal finished with 16 points and seven boards, while Maya Chipped in 14 points and five assists. Rivas led Northern New Mexico with 18 points.

The Eastern New Mexico University men’s basketball team will return to action on Wednesday, when they play Western State, in Durango, Colo. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. MST.