PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico men's basketball is on a four-game winning streak after victories over UTPB and Angelo State last weekend. The Hounds look to keep up the momentum with two matchups on the road.
Brent Owen and the Greyhounds head to Cameron Thursday night for a 6:30 p.m. tip and will conclude the weekend trip with a battle against Midwestern State Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.
Before ENMU travels to face the Aggies and Mustangs, please take a look at the Starting Five:
1.) Nuestra Casa: Greyhound Arena is a special place and it is even more special because the Hounds are 7-0 in games played at home this year. Eastern is coming off a four-game homestand where they beat No. 19 UT Tyler, DBU, UTPB, and (RV) Angelo State. In Friday's 84-75 win over the Falcons, Eastern won its first game while trailing at the half (40-39).
Greg Johnson led all scorers with 24 points and three other teammates scored in double figures –
Jahcoree Ealy (17 pts),
Eze Dike (14 pts), and
Malique Oates (10 pts). The team shot 61.7% from the floor, which marks the best shooting day for any LSC team this season. On Sunday, ENMU secured an 80-70 win over the Rams off 20 points from Johnson, 18 from Ealy, and 15 from Dike. The team also finished with a season-high seven blocks.
2.) Writing History: The 2022-23 season is showcasing a lot of "first since" based off the program's 9-3 start to the year. ENMU's 4-2 start in conference action and 9-3 record overall is the best since 2003-04. Also, the 7-0 start at Greyhound Arena is the best since the 1993-94 season when the team went 10-0 to open play in Portales. Through 12 games,
Errol White's 3.6 offensive rebounds per game is the best in a single season since the stat has been recorded. The team's 3.8 blocks per game ranks fourth all-time with the top mark coming in both the 2013-14 and 2018-19 seasons with the team swatting 4.4 shots per contest.
3.) Jump for Johnson: Before the weekend,
Greg Johnson was averaging just 7.1 points per game and had not contributed more than 13 points in a single game. The last two matches became an instant turnaround as the Little Rock, Ark. native shot the ball with ease and led all scorers in contests against UTPB and ASU. After averaging 22.0 points per game on 60% shooting from the floor, 58.3% from behind the arc, and 92.9% from the free-throw line, the junior guard was recognized as the LSC's Offensive Player of the Week. Johnson is a transfer from Connors State College where he helped take the team to the NJCAA national tournament.
4.) Jahcoree's Jammin': Junior wing
Jahcoree Ealy is a major reason why ENMU sits at 4-2 in conference action. In fact, the Hounds are 7-0 overall and 4-0 in LSC play when he scores in double figures. Against UTPB, the Conway, Ark. native went for 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting. He added five rebounds, three assists, and two steals in the victory. On Sunday, he posted an impressive 18 points, five rebounds, four blocks, and an assist to help the team open 2023 with a win over a Rams' squad who was previously undefeated in conference action.
5.) Looking Ahead: Cameron holds a 28-23 advantage in the overall series with the Hounds. The Aggies are winners of three of the last five meetings, including a 66-65 home win over Eastern in 2022. The team is led by DeSean Munson who is scoring 12.3 points per contest. Midwestern State holds the series lead, 36-16, including a 16-7 record when playing in Wichita Falls. Last time the two programs met in Texas, ENMU came out with an 81-80 win over the Mustangs (2/2/19). MSU is averaging just 69.3 points per game and forcing 11.92 turnovers per contest.
