Box Score DURANGO, COLO.- The Cowboy basketball officially opened the season in Durango, Colorado to participate in the Skyhawk Regional Challenge. The Cowboys took on in-state rival Eastern New Mexico. The Cowboys have not played the Greyhounds in 4 years and were on a five game losing streak before coach
Craig Snow and crew changed that by beating the 'Hounds 85-77.
Besides the Cowboys scoring 33 seconds into the game, the game would not see the ball go through the basket again until the 16:43 mark when
James Healy would hit two free throws to break the almost three minute scoring drought. The Cowboys would hold the 'Hounds scoreless til the 13:45 mark when the Cowboys would hold the 12-2 lead.
With 11:00 minutes left in the half
Andre Hardy would get the Cowboys started on a 11-0 run that spanned 3:11 to give the Cowboys the 29-7 lead. The teams would trade baskets the rest of the half as the Greyhound would cut the Cowboys lead to 17 at halftime, 42-25.
To the open the second half the Cowboys would 8-2 run to go up 21 before the 'Hounds would start to chip their way back and give the Cowboys a game. With just 6:04 left in the game the 'Hounds cut the lead ten at 68-58 on a three from Ladarius Stewart, which was immediately followed up by a Highlands timeout.
With 3:00 left and a 75-65 Cowboy lead, Jonathan Mines hit a jumper to increase the lead to twelve before the 'Hounds' Stewart hit another three to bring the Cowboys lead back to single digits and start a 10-4 run that cut the Cowboys lead to six with just 32 seconds left in the game. In the last 32 seconds
James Healy would go 6-6 from the charity stripe to seal the 85-77 win for the Cowboys.
The Cowboys would have five players score in double digits, and
Ron Lawton would have the Cowboys first double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
James Healy would go 12-13 from the line for the night as the Cowboys shot 77% from the stripe and 48% from the field.
Thoughts from coach
Craig Snow:
I'm really happy for our guys. Our defense got us going, starting the game with 9 straight stops. There is definitely a lot of areas we need to address but this is a big win for our program and for Highlands University. Eastern had won 5 straight dating back to 2005 and with them being an in-state D2, it makes it a rivalry win to start the season. Our ceiling is really high but we have to continue to get better."
