Mustangs overwhelm Hounds

CMI staff

WICHITA FALLS, Texas — Midwestern State turned up the defensive heat on Eastern New Mexico University’s men on Saturday — big-time.

The Mustangs held the Greyhounds, one of the higher-scoring teams in the Lone Star Conference, to just 19 percent from the field and 3-for-20 from 3-point range in a 66-41 rout, improving to 11-4 overall and 3-0 in the LSC.

The Hounds (6-7, 0-2 LSC) were averaging 80 points heading into the start of league play this week, but were held under 100 total in losses to Cameron (59-58 at home on Wednesday) and MSU.

Senior point guard Rodney Blackmon, who had a tough time in the loss to Cameron, had an even tougher outing in this one. He scored just three points, all in the final six minutes from the free throw line, and went 0-for-10 from the field.

He had a lot of company, though. Outside of senior guard Rafael Love, who was 5-for-11 overall and 2-of-5 from long range to finish with 13 points, the Hounds had nobody with more than one field goal.

The 19 percent outing was the lowest the Mustangs have held an opponent to since they joined NCAA Division II in 1996-97.

Despite that, the Hounds were able to stay close until the Mustangs broke out of a tie score with a 13-3 run over the final moments of the first half for a 36-26 lead.

MSU held the Hounds without a field goal for a stretch of more than 11 minutes in the second half. ENMU converted only four field goals in the second half, going 0-for-10 from 3-point range, and compounded its misery with a 7-for-15 showing from the line.

Senior guard Cam Adderley led four Mustangs in double figures with 14 points and added seven rebounds. Senior guard Monzaigo Williams added 13 points and five assists, senior forward Eddie D’Haiti had 10 points and six rebounds and senior guard DeJuan Palmer scored 10 points off the bench.

Love also led ENMU with eight rebounds, while Phil Henry added seven points, seven boards and four of the team’s seven blocks off the bench.