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ENMU victorious, on to LSC tourney

WICHITA FALLS, Texas — Freshman guard Joshua Jackson’s baseline jumper with 1.4 seconds left in overtime Saturday lifted Eastern New Mexico University past Midwestern State 84-82 in a battle for the Lone Star Conference South’s fourth and final berth in next week’s LSC tournament.

The Greyhounds (12-15, 6-6 South) will travel Tuesday to North Division champion Southeastern Oklahoma in a first-round game.

ENMU defeated the Savage Storm 83-65 in a crossover game at Greyhound Arena in early January.

The Hounds, playing without junior post Mikal Monette (knee), got 22 points and eight rebounds from junior guard Tristan Largent. Jackson, meantime, went 8-for-11 from the field, finishing with 17 points, six assists and five rebounds. Senior guard Jolen Montoya added 14 points.

For the Mustangs (16-11, 5-7) guard Chad Rickett converted 11-of-16 shots from the field and 9-of-9 free throws for a game-high 32 points.

The 6-foot-9 junior post Eric Dawson had 21 points and 14 rebounds. Guard Eddie Rowe added 14 points.

Jackson nearly won the game with a jumper at the end of regulation, but was ruled to be just inside the 3-point line. His basket sent the game into overtime at 76-76.

Largent put the Hounds ahead with the first basket of the OT at the 3:44 mark, and ENMU built an 82-77 margin on a layup by freshman forward Jake Holladay with 58 seconds left.

After a missed free throw by Montoya with 30 seconds left, the Mustangs’ Tate Lombard missed a 3-pointer that was rebounded by ENMU’s Chad Donnell.

After a timeout, Dawson stole the inbounds pass, was fouled and made two free throws. On the inbounds pass to Jackson, a held ball was called to give the ball back to Midwestern.

Dawson went inside for a 3-point play off another missed 3-pointer by Lombard to tie the game with 11 seconds to go.

ENMU had leads of six points early, but the Mustangs went on 16-6 run to go up 29-21 with 7 1/2 minutes left in the half.

The margin grew to nine points later, but ENMU scored six of the final eight points before halftime to pull to 39-34.

Down by 10 early in the second half, the Hounds pulled even 46-46 with a 10-0 run that included a basket and a 3-pointer by both Holladay and Jackson. ENMU built a couple of five-point leads after that, but the Mustangs went on a 9-2 run to lead 76-74 on a jumper by LaKeith Grant with five seconds to go.

Zias end season on a good note with victory

WICHITA FALLS, Texas — Tiana Bryant and Heather Brown scored 27 points each as Eastern New Mexico University ended an injury-ravage season Saturday by beating Midwestern State 76-63 in a Lone Star Conference South contest.

In the process, the Zias (11-17, 3-11 South) knocked Midwestern State out of contention for a conference tournament berth.

ENMU lost five players to season-ending knee injuries this season.

Rosalynn Elliott added 11 points for the Zias, who scored 24 points off Midwestern State turnovers.

Angie Faurot led Midwestern State (11-16, 5-9) with 23 points.