Hounds cruise past Chaparrals

Freedom New Mexico

LUBBOCK — Senior forward Equs Darby and sophomore guard Tralyn Harden scored 16 points each and combined to go 6-for-7 from 3-point range Tuesday night, lifting Eastern New Mexico University’s men to a 69-54 victory over previously unbeaten Lubbock Christian.

Harden went 4-for-5 off the bench from long range, including three in the opening seven minutes as the Greyhounds (2-1) bolted to a 19-3 lead while holding the Chaparrals (4-1) without a field goal for nearly eight minutes.

Junior forward Tyler Jefferson added 13 points and a game-high nine rebounds for ENMU, while junior guard-forward Victor Reid finished with 10 points.

Kenny Hewitt, a 6-foot-7 junior forward, scored 12 points for Lubbock Christian but shot just 3-of-18 from the field. The Chaps also got 11 points off the bench from freshman guard Al Duvall, who went 3-for-4 from 3-point range while hit teammates combined to hit just 4-of-16.

ENMU scored the game’s first five points and never trailed, leading by double figures for much of the contest. The Hounds hit eight of their first 10 shots from the field while LCU missed its first nine attempts, including 0-for-4 from 3-point range, before senior guard Tyler Kennedy hit a long 3-pointer with to make it 19-6 with 12:10 left in the half.

Sophomore guard Douglas Williams’ 3-pointer with 9:17 left pulled the Chaps to 23-11. Lubbock Christian got within 27-20 later in the half before the Hounds opened a 39-27 cushion at the break behind 60 percent (15-of-25) field goal shooting.

The Hounds then opened the second half with a 10-2 run for a 49-29 lead. The Chaps countered with a 14-2 surge to pull to 51-43, and were still within 56-48 with six minutes to go after Hewitt was fouled on a 3-point try and made all three free throws before ENMU pulled away for good.

The Hounds were guilty of 29 turnovers in the contest, but negated that stat with a 40-19 domination of the glass. Darby, who went 4-for-5 from the field and 6-for-6 from the free throw line, added eight rebounds and three assists.

The Hounds return to action on Saturday with a 4 p.m. start at Greyhound Arena against Western State (Colo.), kicking off a four-game homestand.