LAS VEGAS, N.M — Junior guard Roman Andrade scored 16 of his game-high 23 points in the second half Saturday night as New Mexico Highlands beat Eastern New Mexico University 81-74 in the men’s basketball opener for both teams.

Freshman forward Mindaugas Markevicus of Lithuania added 20 points and junior post Chris Hobbs scored 15 for the Cowboys, who held the Greyhounds without a field goal over the final five minutes of the half to take the lead for good.

ENMU went in front 30-29 on a basket by junior guard Justin Reynolds with 5:07 left in the half, but managed only five free throws the rest of the period and trailed the Cowboys 40-35 at halftime.

Highlands then went on a 13-2 run over the first three-plus minutes of the second, leading 53-37 after a 3-pointer by Markevicus with just under 17 minutes left.

The Cowboys opened a 20-point lead (66-46) midway through the half before ENMU rallied. A 3-pointer by junior guard Donovan Schultz capped an 11-2 surge that got the Hounds to 68-57 with under eight minutes left.

Andrade’s 3-pointer made it 76-61 with just over six minutes to go. That turned out to be the Cowboys’ last field goal.

ENMU got to 81-74 on two free throws by junior guard Kelvin Thompson with 2:13 left, but neither team scored the rest of the way.

Franklin finished with 18 points and Reynolds added 17 for the Hounds. ENMU shot 35 percent from the field, including 2-of-7 from 3-point range, but stayed close by hitting 26-of-33 from the free throw line.

ENMU plays its home opener 7 p.m. Monday against Emporia State (Kan.) at Greyhound Arena

Zias routed by Fort Lewis
DURANGO, Colo. — Lauren Haugen scored 16 points, leading four Fort Lewis players in double figures as the Skyhawks thumped Eastern New Mexico University 94-56 Saturday night in the women’s basketball opener for both teams.

Junior guard Katie Mackey added 14 points and freshman point Janna Santisteven added 12 for the Skyhawks. Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference preseason player of the year Alison Rosell scored 10 points.

No other information on the game was available at press time Saturday night.