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Reddies turn back Hounds

CMI staff

LAWTON, Okla. — Junior forward Taylor Smith led five Henderson State players in double figures with 20 points, including 4-of-4 from 3-point range, and the Reddies pulled away late for an 89-82 men’s basketball victory over Eastern New Mexico University on Saturday in a game played at Cameron University.

Senior guard Melvin Haynes added 16 points off the bench, including two 3-pointers midway through the second half that helped turned the tide for Henderson State (5-5). Smith, Haynes and freshman guard Kevin Kozan, who added 14 points, were a combined 12-of-16 from long range for the Reddies.

For ENMU (4-4), senior guard Rodney Blackmon poured in a career-high 29 points, including 5-of-7 3-pointers, while senior forward Cornelius Cammock added 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting off the bench.

Senior forward D.J. Hardwell finished with 14 points and a team-high six rebounds, and senior guard Rafael Love scored 12 points for the Hounds.

Henderson State, which came in having lost three in a row at home by a combined four points, sprinted to an early 8-0 lead. The Reddies led 26-14 with 11 1/2 minutes to go in the half before the Hounds erupted for 40 points the rest of the period to take a 54-49 halftime advantage.

The Hounds maintained a lead of between three and six points until Haynes tied it 68-68 with a 3-pointer at the 11:35 mark. Haynes then added another trey to give Henderson State a one-point lead, and a layup by 6-foot-8 junior Ronald Lawson put HSU in front for good 73-71 with 7:20 remaining.

The Reddies shot 56 percent from the field (27-of-48), including 13-of-19 from long distance. The Hounds hit 8-of-19 from beyond the arc and shot 48 percent overall from the floor.

Senior guard Aaron Harwell had 13 points for HSU, while freshman guard Kevin Kozan finished with 12.

ENMU plays its final game before the break on Wednesday against Azuza Pacific at Azuza, Calif.