ENMU men, women fall to A&M Commerce

COMMERCE, Texas — The Eastern New Mexico University women’s basketball team began Thursday’s visit to Texas A&M Commerce with a flurry, but ended it with disappointment.

The Greyhounds fell to A&M Commerce 64-57 in overtime and remained winless in the Lone Star Conference, despite leading after each of the first three quarters.

Eastern was up by five after the first quarter, holding the Lions to just eight points in that period. The Greyhounds opened the quarter on a 7-0 run and soon built a 13-3 lead. By they had constructed a 30-20 edge.

The Greyhounds still led 40-32 heading into the fourth quarter before a furious Lion rally turned the tide, forging a 51-all tie by the end of the fourth and forcing overtime. The Hounds actually still led 49-44 with a little more than three minutes to play in the fourth, but couldn’t stop the Lions’ surge.

A&M Commerce controlled the extra period, outscored Eastern 13-6.

ENMU’s late-game fade wasted a 20-point effort a 20-point, five-rebound, three-blocked-shot effort from senior guard Mikaehla Connor. She shot a scalding 75 percent from the field It was Connor’s first time hitting the 20s scoring-wise since knocking down 22 against Midwestern State last season.

Daeshi McCants registered a double-double for Eastern, with 15 points (on 50 percent FG shooting) and 11 boards, to go with three steals. It was McCants’ second double-double of the 2017-18 season, the sixth of her career.

Eastern fell to 0-3 in LSC play, and missed a chance to reach the .500 mark, dropping to 3-5. The Hounds visit Tarleton State in Stephensville, Texas, on Saturday, with a 1 p.m. scheduled start time.

Eastern men fall

COMMERCE, Texas — The ENMU men’s basketball team was also denied its first Lone Star Conference win, making a valiant attempt to rally but ultimately falling to Texas A&M Commerce 85-78 on the road Thursday.

Eastern dropped to 0-3 in the LSC, 3-6 overall.

A&M Commerce shot a sizzling 61 percent from the field, which helped lead to the outcome.

ENMU freshman Devin Pullum was sizzling in his own right, shooting 58 percent from the field (7-of-12) and 50 percent from three-point land (3-for-6). He finished with 19 points, including those three treys in the final five minutes, helping ignite Eastern’s late rally.

The Greyhounds had faced a second-half deficit as large as 15 points, but thanks in part to Pullum’s hot shooting beyond the arc, whittled the difference to 78-73 before eventually succumbing.

Eastern junior Maurice Coleman chipped in with 18 points on 60 percent (6-of-10) field-goal shooting, along with four assists and four rebounds.

Jamani Pierce supplied 12 points for the Hounds, followed by Arcaim Lallemand with 11.

The Greyhounds move on to play Tarleton State in Stephensville on Saturday, tipping off at 1 p.m.