Eastern New Mexico University's men's basketball team is set to begin conference play against Cameron University on Thursday night at the Steve Loy Family Foundation Arena in Portales, New Mexico.
The Greyhounds enter the matchup after a successful showing at the CSU Pueblo Thanksgiving Classic, where they secured victories over MSU Denver and CSU Pueblo. In the game against MSU Denver, Mo Austin led with 16 points, while Jose Murillo contributed 15 points and Austin Abrams added 13. Mika Tangermann recorded a season-high four blocks, and Murillo achieved a career-best four steals. Against CSU Pueblo, Murillo scored 21 points and collected his second consecutive double-double, with support from Austin (18 points), Cooper Jackson (15 points), and Abrams (10 points). Austin also tallied four assists, four steals, and four rebounds during that win.
Jose Murillo has received national recognition for his performance, being named both the D2CIDA/NABC national player of the week and the Lone Star Conference defensive player of the week. "The Chihuahua, Mexico native earned 16 points, 15 rebounds, four steals, three assists, and two blocks in the matchup with the Roadrunners. In the win over the Thunderwolves, he had 21 points, 15 rebounds, four blocks, and an assist." He is currently the only player in the Lone Star Conference averaging a double-double.
Sophomore Mo Austin delivered strong performances in his hometown of Pueblo, Colorado. He posted 16 points, six assists, five rebounds, and three steals against MSU Denver. In front of nearly 100 family members and friends over two nights, he also recorded 18 points against CSU Pueblo along with notable contributions across several statistical categories. Austin averages 15.5 points per game this season and ranks among the top-15 players in ten or more statistical categories within the Lone Star Conference.
As a team, Eastern New Mexico stands out defensively by holding opponents to just under 40% shooting from the field—the second-best mark in their conference—and maintains a +7.7 rebounding margin that ranks third in the league. The Greyhounds are also third in blocked shots per game (3.8) and fourth in limiting opponents' scoring to just 65.5 points per contest.
Cameron University enters Thursday's contest with a record of three wins and four losses this season. Their victories include close games against Western Colorado (90-83), New Mexico Highlands (89-81), and Southeastern Oklahoma State (111-109). Four Aggies players average double-digit scoring figures; Jordan Mitchell leads with an average of 20.4 points per game while shooting nearly 48% from the floor and leading his team with 35 assists. Michael Jones contributes significantly as well with averages of almost 15 points and more than seven rebounds per game. Cameron ranks second in their conference for three-point percentage defense but has struggled overall on defense by allowing an average of 89 points per game—one of the highest marks nationally.
