Heart Attack Hounds drop arch-rival Buffs in overtime
By: Jonathan Miller
Issue date: 2/8/10 Section: Sports
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What they didn't know is just how thrilling of a victory it would be.
In an exhilarating slugfest between two teams still jostling for position in the Lone Star Conference South, Eastern notched a 61-58 overtime win over their neighbors down the road in Canyon.
Greyhound forward Tyler Jefferson (Jr., Fort Worth, Texas/Tyler JC) scored 14 of his 18 points from the free throw line and Reggie Nelson (G, Jr., Tyler, Texas/Tyler JC) led ENMU in scoring for the second game in a row with 19 points.
"Anyway I could get it into the basket," is how Jefferson described his scoring strategy.
After a first half that saw little offensive production from either side, the Greyhounds began the second half with a 21-18 lead. However, a 3 point bucket by Buffs senior guard Chris Tucker (Philadelphia, PA/Olney Central) gave West Texas an eight point cushion with just more than six minutes remaining.
In true ENMU fashion though, a jumper by Nelson just seconds later sparked an 8-0 Hound run that evened the score at 52 with less than three minutes left in the game.
"I'm just doing what I'm doing," said Nelson, who added five rebounds and a steal to his game-high scoring effort.
A dunk and a layup by forward Alex Davis (Jr., Milwaukee, WI/Tennessee Tech) gave the Buffalos a 56-54 advantage with just eight seconds left on the clock, but the heart attack Hounds had no designs on letting their rivals escape with a win.
ENMU's Jimmie Marshall (G, Sr., Milwaukee, WI/Iowa Lakes CC) pushed the ball up the floor and found Jefferson underneath the basket, who dropped the ball in with two seconds remaining to push the game into overtime.
The lay up was one of only two field goals Jefferson notched during the entire game.
"He (Jefferson) got hit a lot and he was able to step to the line and make free throws," ENMU head coach Andrew Helton said.
"He really played with a lot of heart."
In overtime, Eastern was paced by Marshall, who scored the Greyhounds final four points, two of those coming off of clutch free throws that all but sealed the game.
"Jimmy made big, big free throws and a big, big shot," Helton said.
West Texas lofted up three shots in the final 25 seconds in an effort to tie, but failed to connect.
The gritty win once again reaffirms the reputation that Eastern has built for itself as a team that plays with a lot of heart.
"To be down nine to a pretty good basketball team with seven or eight minutes left and to find a way to win, I can't express how happy I am," Helton said.
The win moved ENMU to 3-3 in conference play and keeps them within reach of an LSC Tournament birth.
"One step closer to Bartlesville," Jefferson said.
If they're going to continue to push for the opportunity to make it to Bruin Fieldhouse, Eastern will need more of the same from Nelson and Jefferson to keep their momentum going.
ENMU returns to home action against Tarleton State on Feb. 10 in hopes of avenging a loss to the Texans earlier this season. Tip-off at Greyhound Arena is set for 8 p.m.