Big run thwarts Hounds against West Texas

CANYON, Texas — Senior forward Jamil Terrell scored 15 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and had three blocks while senior guard Carl Lamb had 15 points and four assists Monday night as West Texas A&M downed Eastern New Mexico University 66-59 in Lone Star Conference South Division men’s basketball.

The host Buffaloes (8-10, 2-1 South) used a 22-5 run to take command in the first half and held off the Greyhounds (7-11, 0-3) down the stretch. ENMU got within four points (53-49) with 5:44 left on a layup by junior guard Jolen Montoya before the Buffs mounted a 12-2 run capped by Terrell’s 3-point play with 3 1/2 minutes left.

Senior forward Jason Campbell added 11 points for WT. Senior forward Jamaal Hunnicutt led the Hounds with 24 points on 10-of-12 field goal shooting, while Montoya added 19.

Eastern led twice early, at 4-3 and 7-5, before the Buffs opened a 15-point lead with their run. All the Hounds managed in that stretch were a 3-pointer by Montoya and a layup by Hunnicutt.

WT maintained a double-figure lead until Jason Breland’s basket in the final minute cut the margin to 36-27 at halftime.

The Hounds shot 59 percent from the field (10-of-17) in the first half, but were hurt by 16 turnovers.

Trailing 41-31, Montoya assisted on a basket by Hunnicutt and then found the range with a 3-pointer to pull ENMU to 41-36. Three-pointers by Jarvis Brown and Steve Jackson helped the Buffs build the margin back to 11 points, but Hunnicutt scored six points as the Hounds rallied back to within four.

Terrill then got inside for a layup, was fouled and missed the free throw. But Brown grabbed the rebound and Terrell eventually found Lamb for a 3-pointer to make it 58-49 with 5:10 to go.

Daniel Sherman, playing his first game since December due to a back injury, scored to make it 58-51 and Breland then stole the ball and went in for a layup. But his shot was blocked by Lamb, and Breland picked up a technical for complaining about the lack of a foul call.

Lamb converted both free throws to restore a nine-point lead with 3:10 go play.

The Buffs won despite shooting 39 percent from the field (21-of-54) to 49 percent (23-of-47) for ENMU.

WT’s victory ended a three-game winning streak for the Hounds in the series. The Buffs lead ENMU all-time 49-12.

Hounds coach Shawn Scanlan made extensive use of three walk-ons in the game, with sophomore guard Aaron Rodriguez getting a start.

Rodriguez played 20 minutes while Ean Forrest and Jamaine Francois played nine minutes apiece.