After erasing a nine-point deficit at the end of the first half, the Eastern New Mexico University men’s basketball team (7-9; LSC 2-5) came back from a 10-point second-half deficit. Saturday night’s wild Lone Star Conference game at D.L. Ligon Coliseum saw 18 lead changes and 13 tie scores. Midwestern State (6-11; LSC 3-5) overcame an 18-point effort from Zach Parker to hand the Greyhounds a heartbreaking 89-87 setback.

The Hounds narrowly missed extending their win streak to four games. Eastern also nearly swept their two-game LSC road trip after Thursday’s dramatic win at Cameron. In addition to being ENMU’s top scorer, Parker rejected five shots, the second most in a game for the Hounds since at least the 2000-01 season.

Inside the Series
The setback moved ENMU to 14-33 in the series against MSU with a 6-16 road record
The contest marked the second straight season which the teams played to overtime at least once

Beyond the Box Score
ENMU shot a season-best 50 percent (12-24) outside the three-point arc
Eastern’s .773 free-throw percentage was third best for the season
The Hounds blocked a season-high nine shots, their most since rejecting nine against Texas A&M-Kingsville on February 5, 2014
The teams combined for 15 free throws in overtime

The Key Runs
Facing a 31-22 deficit with 3:47 left in the first half, Shawn Shelton hit a jumper for ENMU
The Hounds closed the half on a 9-0 run and headed to halftime with a tie score
With 8:49 left in the second half, Eastern trailed 55-45
Maurice Coleman hit a trey to ignite an 18-6 ENMU run over the ensuing 4:08 of play
Parker closed the run with a fastbreak three-pointer of his own to give the Hounds a 63-61 lead with 4:19 left
Three Brandon Neel free throws staked MSU to a 71-67 lead a with just 43 seconds left in regulation, but Lamarquis Thompson drained a three-point bucket to pull the Hounds within one
Midwestern State’s Devante Pullum hit two free throws with 31 seconds left for a three-point lead, but Thompson answered with another trey with 15 on the clock to force overtime
The overtime session saw seven lead changes, with the Mustangs taking the lead for the final time on a Devante Pullum layup with 1:21 left

In the Numbers
The Mustangs held a 21-3 edge in second-chance points and a 17-3 lead in points off turnovers
ENMU converted on 17 of their 22 free throw attempts
Thompson finished with 16 points and seven rebounds
Devin Pullum had 12 points, four assists and three steals
Arcaim Lallemand finished with 11 points, eight boards, two assists, two blocked shots and a steal
Maurice Coleman chipped in 11 points, four assists and a steal
Neel paced MSU with 23 points, five rebounds, six assists and three steals

Up Next
The Eastern New Mexico University men’s basketball team will return to Greyhound Arena on Thursday, January 18, to host Texas A&M-Kingsville
The game is sponsored by Bender Family of Dealerships, Clovis and will tip off at 12 p.m. MT
The contest is also ENMU’s Kids Day