Game Recap: Men’s Basketball |  | Cameron Brennan

Eastern New Mexico men’s basketball were beaten 86-66 on Saturday afternoon at the First United Bank Center. The Greyhounds slip to 6-15, and 2-10 overall. The Buffs improve to 21-6, and 7-5 in Lone Star Conference play.

The Buffs jumped out to a controlling lead within the first 10 minutes of the half. The Hounds held an early 4-3 advantage after a jumper from Garrick Sherrod and a layup from Yosnier Cobas. WT controlled a 19-0 streak, holding a 24-4 lead with ten minutes played. Eastern cut into the lead with a pair of field goals from Jared Perry. First, a layup then a dunk ended the Hounds scoring drought, 24-8 WT.

West Texas used large streaks to expand its lead as the rest of the half played out. WT went on a 15-7 run, to control a 31-point advantage. In the run, Perry converted two jumpers, and Kevin Nze Mba also converted a layup. Eastern would head to the locker room behind 49-19.

After the break, both teams went back and forth, with each team matching each other basket for basket, 64-33 WT. Eastern sprung a small scoring spurt on West Texas. Layups from Niko Bossinakis and Cornell Greenwood, along with a Bossinakis three, 64-41 WT.

With 10 minutes remaining game, the teams went back and forth with baskets. Eastern strung together another 8-0 run with five minutes left to play.  Adam Hess contributed six points and Kentrell Pullian found a layup. The game concluded with each team trading points, as the Greyhounds were dealt an 86-66 defeat.

NOTABLE STATS

  • Perry posted a career high 16 points, going a perfect 8-8 from the field. Pullian and Hess each contributed nine points, while Bossinakis and Marvin Mapaga provided seven points to the team.
  • Nze Mba pulled down a team high nine rebounds. Pullian was next with seven rebounds, and Bossinakis pulled down six boards.
  • Pullian paced the Hounds with four assists, and poked away one steal.
  • Cobas, Hess, Perry, and Pullian all registered a block.

FROM THE SOURCE

“I proud of our fight in the second half and the way we battled on the glass all night,” said Head Men’s Basketball Coach Brent Owen. “Unfortunately, our turnovers led to 27 points for them in the first half and that is not something we could overcome. It was good to see Jared (Perry) have a game on the offensive end, going 8-8 against one of the best teams in the LSC,” said Owen.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

  • WT owns the all-time series 92-20 against the Greyhounds.
  • Perry posted a career best 16 points, along with eight made field goals (personal best).
  • Bossinakis collected a career best six rebounds.
  • The Greyhounds turn their attention to #3 Lubbock Christian University. Eastern will entertain the Chapperals on Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m. in Greyhound Arena.