Fans who chose to head to WNMU for the Mustangs’ home opener were witness to a four overtime thriller. Unfortunately the Mustangs came out on the short end of the 107-108 final score as Northern New Mexico surged in the last two minutes to snatch the victory from the Mustangs.
The stat line read like a video game; 160 shots, 123 free throws, 87 fouls, 9 players fouling out, 8 players scoring in double figures, and over 120 rebounds. WNMU freshman Willie McCray came within a point of breaking the school’s single game scoring record of 40 points, currently held by Mustang Assistant Coach Matt Enriquez.
NNMC (3-1) came back in the second half to gain not only their first lead of the night but their largest lead came at the 8:28 mark when a layup gave the Eagles a 60-52 edge. The Eagles would continue to hold of the Mustang surges holding a 2 point edge with just 12.5 seconds left. The Mustangs would set up a play after a time out that resulted in McCray driving the base line and releasing a floater from 10 feet that found the bucket as the clock expired. The excitement was only the tip of the iceberg.
Tied at 73, both teams would have a tough time getting shots to fall as the defense was stifling. NNMC built a 78-75 margin when Marcus Ellis got free for a layup. The Mustangs would fight back and take the lead with 10 seconds left in OT as freshman Carter Aby nailed two from the charity stripe to put Western up 82-80. But Thomas Bullock found room to drive the length of the floor and lay it in sending the game into the second extra period.
NMMC controlled the action once again as the Stangs had a tough time making shots, pushing their lead to four early in the 2nd OT. The game then turned into a free throw shooting contest as players began to tire, starters fouled out, and the officials began tightening up the calls. McCray would hit a pair from the charity stripe to tie the game once again at 88. After an Eagle layup, McCray found an opening in the lane once again, bringing the game to another tie with just 37 seconds left. After an Eagle missed layup, partially blocked by Aby, Western had 2 shots to win but couldn’t find the hole; overtime number 3 was ready to go.
Once again the team from Espanola would get off to a fast start and Western would claw back into the game with free throws. Walid Ahmed put the Eagles ahead by 3 with 37 seconds left. The Mustangs moved down the floor, called time out and set up a play to try and tie the game. When McCray and Adam Kessler were unable to get open for a shot, McCray found Aby open on the right wing. Aby would nail the three as time expired and the crowd went wild.
The 4th OT period started differently as WNMU built an early lead, jumping out to a three point edge twice in the first two minutes. Foul shots by the Eagles helped them tie the game then take a three point lead after Ahmed hit a pair with just 22 seconds left. After another Mustang fouled out, the home team turned it over leading to Coles hitting one of two free throw attempts, putting the Eagles up by 4. McCray would hit a 3 from the top of the key as time expired. The Eagles held on for the marathon win.
After WNMU shot 50% from the floor in the first half on their way to a 12 point margin that was cut to 1 at the break, they shot poorly in the OT, just 27%. In addition to McCray’s 39, Emery Range would add 18 pts and 11 rebounds for his second double/double of the season. Aby added 14 points & 7 boards while Daniel Van Den Kerkhof posted 10 points in limited play. The Mustangs fall to 0-3 on the season.
Western will hit the road this Friday as they play Benedictine College in Mesa AZ. Game time is 7 p.m.