Aggies to open LSC play at WT and ENMU

November 28, 2018

Cameron University Athletics

Kenton Means – Sports Information Director

LAWTON, Okla. — The Cameron men’s basketball team will open up Lone Star Conference play at No. 8 West Texas A&M on Thursday and then travel to Eastern New Mexico on Saturday.

Starting 5:
1. Cameron senior Zach Dumas was named the Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Monday after averaging 24 points and 4.5 rebounds last week against Dallas Baptist and Southwestern Oklahoma State.
2. The Aggies are fifth in the nation with 196 free throw attempts and third with 145 free throws made, led by Dumas, who ranks fifth with 44 free throw made and 57 attempts this season.
3. West Texas A&M’s is ranked No. 8 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II Top-25 and No. 7 in the D2SIDA Poll.
4. Ryan Quaid recently became the all-time leading rebounder in program history with 791 career boards; the senior leads the team with 14.3 points and 8.6 rebounds per game in 2018.
5. Eastern New Mexico’s Chukuka Emili is ranked No. 13 in DII and third in the LSC with 65 total rebounds, averaging 9.6 per game.

About the Aggies:
Cameron dropped their fourth game of the season and second in a row with an 83-75 loss to Arkansas-Fort Smith on Tuesday. They are averaging 82.2 points per game, but shooting just 40.3 percent from the floor. However, CU is second in the LSC with a three point percentage of 36.5 and third with a 74.0 free throw percentage. They also average 39 rebounds, 11.3 assists, 9.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks per outing.

Dumas leads the team and the conference with 19.5 points per game, shooting 77.2 percent from the free throw line. He is also averaging 4.2 rebounds and has 11 steals on the season. Tyus Momoh is second on the team with 11.3 points per game to go along with 5.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.2 steals per contest, while Johann Tate is right behind him with 11.2 points per game.

Scouting the Buffs:
West Texas A&M is 8-1 heading into Lone Star Conference play, with five straight wins, including a pair against Colorado State-Pueblo and Central Oklahoma last weekend during the WT Pak-A-Sak Thanksgiving Classic; their lone loss coming against Western State on Nov. 9. The Buffs average 81.0 points per game, while shooting 45.2 percent from the floor. They also excel defensively, holding their opposition to scoring 66.3 points per outing, while shooting just 41 percent from the field and 27.8 percent from the perimeter. WT also averages 37.6 rebounds, 14.2 assists, 6.1 steals, and 2.8 blocks per outing.

Four Buffs are scoring double-figures on the season, with Quaid leading the way with 14.3 points and 8.6 boards per game. Joel Murray is second on the team with 11.7 points per contest, shooting 80.8 percent from the charity stripe, while Qua Grant and Gach Gach each average around 10 points for WT. Gach also leads the team and is ranked second in the nation with 69 three pointers attempted, hitting on just 27.5 percent of his shots from the perimeter. Murray and Brandon Hall lead the Buffs with 27 total assists each.

The Series vs. WT:
– West Texas A&M leads the all-time series against CU 35-15.
– The Aggies have lost four straight in the series, with their last win coming on March 3, 2016 in the LSC Tournament.
– CU’s last win in Canyon was on Dec. 31, 2015 when the Aggies took down the Buffs at home 83-80.
– Last season, WT took both contests between the two teams, blowing out the Aggies at home and then winning in overtime at the Aggie Gym.

Scouting the Greyhounds:
Eastern New Mexico enters the Lone Star Conference season with a 1-4 record, with their lone win coming against Jarvis Christian, 88-60; they also have a pair of exhibition losses to UT-El Paso and New Mexico State this year. They are averaging 72.6 points in 2018, while shooting 41.3 percent from the field, 28.2 percent from three, and 68.5 percent from the charity stripe. On the defensive side of the ball, the Greyhounds allow opponents to score 81.6 points per game and shoot 46.6 percent from the floor. They also turn the ball over 15.6 times per game compared to 11.6 assists.

Zach Parker leads ENMU with 12.6 points per outing, shooting 37.7 percent from the floor, 34.4 percent from the perimeter, and 75 percent from the foul line. Emili is nearly averaging a double-double with 11.6 points and 9.6 rebounds, while also totaling six blocks and shooting 56.1 percent from the field.

The Series vs. ENMU:
– Cameron owns a 26-21 record over the Greyhounds all-time.
– In the last 10 matchups, Cameron is 7-3 against ENMU.
– CU won 60-58 a year ago in Portales, N.M. after falling at home against the Greyhounds 70-67.

Up Next:
Cameron will return to non-league play for their next four contests. First up is a rematch with Lubbock Christian on Saturday, Dec. 15, followed by a trip to Fort Smith, Ark. for a pair of contests against UAFS and Rogers State, Dec. 18 and 19. CU will wrap up 2018 on the road for a rematch with Dallas Baptist on Dec. 29.

Kenton Means

Sports Information Director – Cameron University

2800 W. Gore Blvd., South Shepler 512

Lawton, OK 73505

Office – (580) 581-2303

Cell – (580) 583-2210

Fax – (580) 581-5537

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