Western New Mexico University’s men’s basketball team secured a 76-58 win over New Mexico Highlands University on Saturday at the John A. Wilson Complex in Las Vegas, New Mexico. The Mustangs now have a four-game winning streak and an overall record of 5-1 as they approach conference play.
The Mustangs dominated in the paint, outscoring their opponent 38-22, and collected 14 steals throughout the game to maintain control. Head Coach Mark Bunker said, "We are so well connected on and off the court. The guys are really starting to trust each other on both ends of the court. It makes our defense so much stronger."
WNMU started strong with efficient scoring and quick transitions. Early highlights included a free throw from Isaiah Broady at 19:47 and a dunk by Keylon Dorsey at 16:54 after a steal by Cortaviaus Seales. Carson Kelly extended the lead with a layup at 7:35 in the first half.
Capitalizing on turnovers by New Mexico Highlands, Andre Harris and Tanner Poeschl added key baskets for Western New Mexico. Broady closed out the first half with a layup nine seconds before halftime, giving WNMU a 35–18 lead. This was Western New Mexico's second victory this season against their in-state rival NMHU.
In the second half, Dorsey opened with another dunk at 19:33 followed by Seales hitting a three-pointer at 18:57 to make it 40–20. Harris continued to contribute offensively while Kelly’s free throws further increased their advantage midway through the half. Despite efforts from N.M. Highlands to narrow the gap, WNMU maintained its lead and finished ahead by eighteen points.
Three players scored double digits for Western New Mexico: Harris led with 18 points (including two blocks), Kelly had 15 points (with two steals), and Seales added ten points along with four steals. Nolan Brown contributed defensively with four steals.
Coach Bunker commented on his team's performance: "Having veteran guys that love playing for each other is definitely part of the reason we have consistently seen guys score the ball well," he said. "Another big part is these guys are very talented and put in a ton of work on their game."
For N.M. Highlands, Dontae Walker led scorers with eighteen points while Latavious Morris contributed six points and two steals; Nikk Williams tallied three steals and six rebounds.
The Mustangs will continue their road schedule when they face St. Mary's in San Antonio, Texas, on December 4th.
For more information about Mustang Athletics visit www.wnmumustangs.com or follow @WNMUathletics on social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Instagram.
