ALBUQUERQUE --- It was quite the homecoming for Albuquerque native
Desmond Carpenter as the senior guard dropped 33 points and added eight steals and seven assists in New Mexico Highlands' 97-87 victory over Eastern New Mexico on Sunday at The Pit.
Carpenter finished 12-for-18 from the field, including 5-for-8 from 3-point range, to score his career-high 33 points in helping NMHU (1-1 overall) defeat the Greyhounds (0-2).
The Cowboys led for the final 30 minutes, 20 seconds of the game after
Tyler Rodgers drained a 3-pointer with 10:20 left in the first half (assisted by Carpenter) to make it 19-16 Cowboys.
NMHU's lead grew to as much as 17 points in the second half before winning by 10.
The Cowboys as a team shot 55.6 percent from the field - including 14-for-23 (60.9 percent) from 3-point range. NMHU also forced 23 ENMU turnovers, leading to 26 points.
To go along with Carpenter's 33 points, Ja'Vary Christmas had 24 points - going 7-for-8 from 3-point range - to go along with five assists.
Marcus Brown had 13 points for the Cowboys while
Darius Harrison finished with 10 points, five rebounds and two blocks.
NMHU returns to action 3 p.m. Tuesday as it host University of the Southwest at Wilson Complex in its home opener before hitting the road Wednesday to take on Northern New Mexico.
