SAN ANTONIO – Four Rattlers scored in double figures led by senior Markques Houston who scored 18 as the St. Mary's Men's Basketball team battled Eastern New Mexico in Lone Star Conference action on Thursday night. 
 
Sophomore Caleb Jordan scored 14 points to go along with five assists and four rebounds while Matej Gaspert and Curtlon Wesley each chipped in with 10 points. 
 
Gaspert and freshman Emmanuel Ewuzie led the Rattlers with seven rebounds each while Kobe Magee dished out a team-high six assists. 
 
The Rattlers struggled from long distance, connecting on just six of their 25 attempts. St. Mary's has been averaging nine triples per game on the season. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The game was back-and-forth through the first 10 minutes of the contest as Houston connected on one-of-two free throws to even the game at 15. Eastern New Mexico proceeded to go an 8-0 run to take their largest lead of the game to that point. 
 
Houston knocked down the Rattlers' first three of the game at the halftime buzzer to cut the St. Mary's lead seven after 20 minutes of action. 
 
The Greyhounds controlled the first 15 minutes of the second frame but trailing by 10 with just under five minutes to play, the Rattlers turned up the defensive pressure, forcing ENMU into turnovers. 
 
With 48 seconds to play, freshman Jaron Presley drained a three from the far corner to cut the St. Mary's deficit to three points, however, Eastern New Mexico converted their opportunities from the free throw line to put the game out of reach and earn their first victory of the season. 
 
UP NEXT
With game one of their three game homestand in the books, the Rattlers will welcome No. 3 West Texas A&M to San Antonio on Saturday, December 14. Due to fall graduation, Saturday's contest will be played at the University of the Incarnate Word. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. in the McDermott Center.