Silver City, N.M. – Opening up with their first conference game of the season, the Western New Mexico University men’s basketball team were unable to find the win last Thursday against 24th ranked West Texas A&M University, 91-55.
With an overall record of 9-1, West Texas kept Western on the ropes as they only trailed once throughout the entire game. The only time WNMU kept the lead came a minute into the first half. From then on, the Buffs controlled the game. With the clock at 14:04 in the first half, WTAM pushed their lead to fourteen. The Mustang would fight back with five minutes left in the half as Latrell Spivey knocked in a layup that brought the deficit to seven, 29-22. A few possessions later, WNMU kept pushing as they cut the lead to six, 34-28, thanks to a CJ Vanbeekum layup. Before the half, West Texas found momentum late and went on a 6-1 run, making the score 40-29.
The Buffs came out storming in the first six minutes of the second half as they went on a 15-5 run. WTAM did not look back after that as they maintained a steady double-digit lead throughout the half. West Texas went on to take the win, 91-55.
From the field, the Mustangs shot a 37 percent and a 29 percent from three point range. West Texas outmatched them as they shot 47 percent on the floor and 31 percent from beyond the arc. The Buffs also dominated Western in points in the paint 48 to 24 and in bench points 36 to 15.
Two WNMU players reached double figures in points; Emery Range and Eddie Giron with 10 apiece. Leading in the rebound column was Spivey and Alex Gonzalez with 10 each.
The Mustangs hold a 1-5 overall record and look to snap their five game losing streak this Saturday as they travel to UT Permian Basin with the game beginning at 4 p.m. (Central Time).
