The Chase

Issue date: 1/27/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Stephanie Stewart An unidentified Texan player watches as Eastern forward Gerald Brown (22) goes up against Tarleton State's Eric Williams during the Greyhounds 64-41 loss last Wednesday at Greyhound Arena.

Before entering Greyhound Arena, before entering Portales city limits, the Texans of Tarleton State had to go the distance last Saturday against Angelo State in a four-overtime thiller. So, Wednesday night, a slow start would have been acceptable for the Texans, but it was the host Greyhounds that opened the game with a lackluster attitude.

Eastern New Mexico University allowed Tarleton to jump out to a 13-2 start en route to a 64-41 win over the 4-13 Greyhounds.

Brandon Wilson finally got ENMU into double digits with two free throws with seven minutes, two seconds remaining in the first half, but went the next four minutes without a bucket.

"Look at the score. We played as good as the score indicated," Eastern coach Shawn Scanlan said. "We didn't play well, and what was really disappointing is that we didn't compete."

The Greyhound defense broke down on several occasions allowing 24 points in the paint and 10 points off of second-chance rebounds. ENMU's offense was not any better. Eastern committed 19 turnovers that the Texans turned into 26 points.

While the Greyhounds were going ice cold from the field (25 percent in the first half), the Texans were busy building on a lead with poised shooting and stifling defense.

"I thought the tone of the game was set early (by Tarleton)," Scanlan said, "and they decided the way the game was going to be played from start to finish. … What's even more disheartening is that we didn't step up and match their intensity and their toughness."

Tarleton shot 47.9 percent from the field and got a dominating performance on the glass from 6-foot-6 forward Eric Williams. The senior finished two points short of a double-double with 10 rebounds and eight points. No Greyhound player recorded double-digit rebounds.

"That's just me," Williams said after being asked about his effort on the boards. "I get in the paint and try to grab every rebound I can."

Tarleton (13-5 overall; 1-2 Lone Star Conference) got huge contributions off the bench from upper-classmen Effran Bryant and Kenneth Cage. Bryant chipped in a game-high 12 points including three three-pointers and a layup that occurred only seconds after the Humble, Texas native entered the game.

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