PORTALES, NM – Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds welcome two LSC teams to the arena this week. The Hounds will face UAFS Thursday, Dec. 19th for the first time in series history as the Lions compete for the first time in the LSC. Also a new conference team, the Oklahoma Christian Eagles will visit on Saturday, Dec. 21st.
LAST WEEK
ENMU saw their first win of the season against St. Mary’s dominating the glass out-rebounding the Rattlers 43 to 38. The Hounds shot 72.4 percent from the free-throw line making 21-for-29 charity shots. The Hounds came out in full force in the second half after taking the halftime lead. ENMU saw two scoring runs to help them extend their lead, adding extra 12 points off turnovers and used their speed for an added 16 points off fast breaks. The Rattlers came within three at the 39 second mark, but a fast break by Isaiah Murphy landed him two free-throws that gave the Hounds the leg up they needed to finish the game.
In their next road contest, the Hounds faced a nationally ranked St. Edwards Hilltoppers. The Hounds were unable to match with the impressive scoring capabilities of the Hilltoppers despite out-rebounding 43-36. The Hounds out-shot the Hilltoppers from beyond the arc but were unable to connect from the free-throw line going 9-for-15 finishing with a 60.0 percent compared the Hilltoppers 88.9%.
Yosnier Cobas reached the No. 3 spot in the LSC for blocked shots leading the Hounds with 11 this season. Cobas saw his best game of the season last Thursday against St. Mary’s where he was one point shy of a double-double recording nine points and 13 rebounds. So far this season Cobas leads the Hounds with 55 rebounds in eight games, 38 on defense.
Devin Pullum continues to lead the Hounds in scoring averaging 14.9 points per game. This past week against St. Mary’s, Pullum scored 23 points, his third time scoring over 20 points a game. After last week’s play, Mathew Mazique now leads the Hounds from the free-throw line shooting an 85.7 percent going 6-for-7.
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
UAFS LIONS
First year in the LSC Conference, picked to finish 11th in preseason poll. Made it to the last Heartland Conference Tournament but fell in the first round to Oklahoma Christian. UAFS announced the hiring of Jim Boone this past spring. Boone has 33 years’ experience as a head coach and comes from Delta State University where he led the Statesmen to a 19-12 record. UAFS started off their season 2-0 after sweeping the Coca-Cola conference under first year head coach Jim Boone. The Lions returned home for their first LSC game of the season against Texas A&M-International where they took a 74-63 win.
UAFS is led by senior guard Brian Halums who comes to UAFS after one year at Ole Miss. Halums averages 23. 1 points per game and has made 25 points or more in five games this season. Halums is also averaging 7.5 rebounds a contest, 60 this season, and shoots a 75.4 percent from the free-throw line. Senior forward, Matt Morgan is efficient from the field shooting a 75.0 percent going 15-for-20.
OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN EAGLES
First year in the LSC Conference, picked to finish 14th in preseason poll. The Eagles saw their hopes at a championship fade away after making it to the last round of the Heartland Conference Tournament, losing to DBU 77-57.Oklahoma Christian announced former assistant coach Kendre Talley to interim head coach. Talley is a former OC standout player who also spent a year playing professionally in Germany. OC Eagles are stacked with upper classman, seven seniors and four juniors make up 15 man roster.
The Eagles are led by forward senior Dedrian Parmer Jr. who averages 17.9 points a game and 7.3 rebounds. Parmer Jr. went 11-for-11 from the field against Texas A&M-International finishing with 28 points for the contest. Parmer Jr. is also averaging a 73.4 percent from the free-throw line going 47-for-64 in seven games played. Will Lienhard has only seen action in four games this season for the Eagles but leads the team in blocked shots (11). The 6’8 senior recorded seven blocked shots against Southwestern Oklahoma where he also landed 12 rebounds
New HOUNDS
Greyhounds welcome 6’3 guard Brandon Meadows from Eastern Wyoming College, 6’7 forward Marvin Mapaga from Arizona Western, 6’7 forward Yosnier Cobas from Columbia Junior College. 6’7 guard Jose Serrano originally from Venezuela but recently played at Southwestern College in California and a 6’4 guard from Texas, Nico Matheus.
LEADING THE HOUNDS
Devin Pullum currently leads the Hounds in scoring averaging 14.9 points a game recording 119 points so far this season. Pullum has posted 20 or more points three times this season. Pullum also leads the Hounds in steals recording 11 this season.
Yosnier Cobas, a 6’7 junior from Florida, leads the Hounds in rebounding with 55 this season so far. Cobas also leads the Hounds in blocks recording 11 this season. Cobas landed the third spot in the LSC conference for blocked shots averaging 1.4 a game. This is the second time Cobas has been in the top five for blocked shots.
Mathew Mazique leads the Hounds from the free-throw line going 6-for-7 this season for a .857 percent.
SO FAR THIS SEASON
Traveling to Durango Colo. for the LSC/RMAC Conference Challenge, the Hounds started off their regular season against New Mexico Highlands and Fort Lewis. In their first LSC match up the Hounds visited rival West Texas A&M. Falling behind in the first the Hounds were unable to recover and create scoring plays, losing the match up 93-78. Returning to Durango Colo., the Hounds spent Thanksgiving getting ready for a pair of games starting with Metro State Denver and ending with Regis University.
In their next contest, the Hounds welcomed Wayland Baptist to the Greyhound Arena. Despite a late rally that brought them within points of a tie, the Hounds were unable to secure a win inside Greyhound Arena.
Packing up for their first road trip of the season, ENMU saw their first win of the season against St. Mary’s after out-rebounding the Rattlers 43 to 38. The game came down to the last 39 seconds as St. Mary’s came within three points. From there, the Hounds traveled to St. Edward’s where they were matched with an impressive offensive team and were unable to bring home another LSC win.
NEW LOOK LSC
The Lone Star Conference expanded to 19 schools with the addition of Dallas Baptist University, Lubbock Christian University, Oklahoma Christian University, St. Edward’s University, St. Mary’s University, Texas A&M International University, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith and University of Texas at Tyler, making it the biggest Division II conference in the nation.
The LSC will be divided into three divisions and will play 22 conference games with division foes playing home-and-away series against each other and once versus the rest of the conference. The top four schools from each division will move on to the postseason tournament with the opening round being held on campus of the higher seed before the final eight teams battle it out at Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas. The Hounds division will include Angelo State, Lubbock Christian, UT Permian Basin, West Texas A&M and Western New Mexico.
