Hounds make total turnaround in rout

Eastern New Mexico University men’s basketball coach Shawn Scanlan didn’t know the team he coached on Saturday in the High Desert Classic in Las Vegas, Nev.

He didn’t really expect the team he saw on Sunday.

Dominating a good opponent from start to finish, the Greyhounds (4-6) thrashed St. Mary’s 79-41 to gain a split in the two-day, 18-team, 18-game event played at the McDermott Physical Education Center on the campus of UNLV.

It was the only win for the four Lone Star Conference representatives in the event (1-7).

Trounced by Pittsburg State 83-63 on Saturday, Scanlan said he took a peek to see how St. Mary’s was doing in its game as the Hounds prepared to leave the building. The Rattlers (8-4) were leading comfortably against Missouri Western in a game they went on to win 78-67.

“It was a tale of two different teams,” he said Monday of his squad’s performance. “We were flying all over the place (on Sunday), especially the first 20 minutes.

“Hopefully, we learned something from this. We really concentrated on defense and rebounding and effort, and those areas were very good for us (on Sunday).”

ENMU led the Rattlers 18-14 after 10 minutes, but held St. Mary’s scoreless over the final six minutes of the half in building a 38-19 cushion. The Hounds were up 75-35 with three minutes to go.

It was an out-of-character showing for the Rattlers, who own wins over LSC powers Tarleton State and Texas A&M-Kingsville plus a sweep of highly-regarded Rollins College and Tampa on a swing to Florida. One of their losses came at Division I Louisiana-Lafayette (79-63).

Junior Jason Breland led four ENMU players in double figures with 17 points on 8-of-9 field goal shooting, and Scanlan said the Hounds got contributions in other areas from players who didn’t score a lot.

Eastern committed 22 turnovers, but dominated the boards 39-19, made 17-of-20 free throws and shot 59 percent from the floor.

“We were making all the hustle plays we haven’t been making,” Scanlan said. “For the first time, our defense gave our offense a chance.

“Honestly, as bad as things were on Saturday, they were that good on Sunday.”

The Hounds will take a break this week, returning to practice on Sunday in preparation for a Dec. 30 game at New Mexico State.

ENMU 79, St. Mary’s 41

Eastern New Mexico (4-6) — Jason Breland 8-9 0-0 17, Jamaal Hunnicutt 5-7 4-4 14, Edmound Elzy 2-6 0-0 4, Reggie Wallace 4-8 3-4 13, Irshaun Pinckney 4-6 4-4 13, Jamaine Francois 0-1 0-0 0, Aaron Rodriguez 0-0 0-0 0, Billy Austin 2-3 0-0 4, Chad Donnell 2-3 0-0 4, Jamal Washington 2-4 4-4 8, Daniel Sherman 0-2 2-4 2. Totals 29-49 17-20 79.

St. Mary’s (8-4) — Henry Hernandez 1-5 0-0 2, Billy White 4-10 0-0 10, Fabiano Souza 0-1 1-2 1, J.J. Edwards 2-9 0-0 4, Dominique Richardson 2-6 0-0 4, Alex Good 0-1 0-0 0, Brett Jewasko 1-3 0-0 3, Tom Osborn 0-0 0-0 0, Marcus Hill 0-2 2-2 2, Steve Goff 1-4 0-0 2, Joe Allen 3-6 3-3 9, Cody Spring 1-4 2-2 4, Marcello Spatti 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 15-51 8-9 41.

Halftime — Eastern New Mexico 38, St. Mary’s 19. 3-pointers — Eastern New Mexico 4-7 (Wallace 2-2, Breland 1-1, Pinckney 1-2, Elzy 0-1, Washington 0-1), St. Mary’s 3-18 (White 2-6, Jewasko 1-3, Hill 0-1, Richardson 0-2, Edwards 0-3, Goff 0-3). Rebounds — Eastern New Mexico 39 (Elzy 8), St. Mary’s 19 (Hernandez, White 4). Assists — Eastern New Mexico 16 (Pinckney 6), St. Mary’s 11 (Richardson 3). Total fouls — Eastern New Mexico 14, St. Mary’s 19. Fouled out — Breland. A — 114.