LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The HBU men's basketball team fell 91-69 in their season opener at New Mexico State on Friday night inside Pan American Center.
Senior
Anthony Odunsi led the Huskies (0-1) with 12 points, finishing 4-of-5 from the floor with two hits from deep and one from the charity stripe. The native of Sugar Land, Texas, was one of two HBU players to finish with four rebounds against the Aggies (1-0), joined by junior
Reveal Chukwujekwu.
Senior
Caleb Crayton and junior
Colter Lasher each poured in 11 points for the Huskies, while sophomore guard
Trey Patterson finished with nine points. HBU shot 24-of-66 (36.4%) from the field, 6-of-21 (28.6 %) from behind the arc and 15-of-22 (68.2%) from the line. The Huskies held a 15-12 advantage in points off turnovers and a 9-7 edge in fast break points.
NM State opened with the first points of the game and held a 13-3 lead three minutes in.
Down 25-11 with 12:46 to go, HBU went on a 10-4 surge over the next 3:42, highlighted by 3-pointers from senior
Jourdan Stickler and Lasher, to pull within eight points at 29-11. However, the Aggies took back a double-digit advantage less than a minute later and moved the margin to 18 points in taking a 51-33 lead into halftime.
In the second half, the Huskies were narrowly outscored 40-36 in suffering its first loss of the 2015-16 season.
HBU will be back in action on Monday, hosting Crowley's Ridge in their home opener. Tip inside Sharp Gym is set for 7 p.m.
