Hounds bounce back with victory over Aggies

CMI staff

LAWTON, Okla. — Senior forward Phil Henry scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds and Eastern New Mexico University’s men pulled away in the second half for a 72-61 Lone Star Conference victory over Cameron on Wednesday night.

ENMU (13-9, 6-4 LSC) rebounded from a two-point loss at Angelo State on Saturday, pulling back into a tie for third place with the Rams, who lost to Tarleton State at home 72-64 on Wednesday night. Senior guard Devone Davis added 13 points and six assists for the Hounds.

For the Aggies (9-12, 3-7), who lost their seventh in a row after a 3-0 league start, senior guards Will Cook, Sean McGary and Craig Foster scored 18, 12 and 11 points, respectively.

ENMU led most of the way in the first half, ending the stanza on a 10-3 run over the final three minutes to take a 35-30 lead into halftime. Senior guard Kyle Lantz had a 3-pointer and two free throws and Henry added a three-point play during the run.

The Aggies tied it 35-35 on a 3-pointer by senior guard Asaad Robinson less than two minutes into the second half, but ENMU scored the next eight points on three-point plays by Davis and senior forward Cornelius Cammock and two free throws by Cammock. The Hounds stretched the lead to double figures for the first time (47-37) on two free throws by senior guard Rodney Blackmon with 14:20 to go, and built a 66-52 margin with 4 1/2 minutes left on a layup by Lawrence Domingo.

The Aggies countered with a 9-0 run over the next 2 1/2 minutes, but never scored again as ENMU scored the final six points.

Blackmon, ENMU’s leading scorer, went 0-for-6 from the field but converted all eight free throw attempts and finished with a game-high seven assists. The Hounds shot 48 percent overall, led by Henry (7-of-10).

ENMU was guilty of just eight turnovers in the contest while forcing Cameron into 13 turnovers, including nine steals. Davis led the way with four.