SAN ANTONIO — The No. 9 St. Mary's University Men's Basketball team staved off a feisty Western New Mexico team in the Lone Star Conference opener for both squads, winning 80-76 on Thursday night to remain undefeated on the season.
The Rattlers (6-0, 1-0) trailed by seven at the half, 41-34, the first time all year they've entered the locker room down but came out on a tear at the beginning of the second half, forcing the Mustangs (5-2, 0-1) into taking a timeout 55 seconds in.
Justin Britt (Goose Creek, S.C.) made a layup, and senior
Eddie McPhee (Denver) recorded back-to-back dunks off steals to cut the deficit to one, 41-40.
McPhee ended the game with the first double-double of his StMU career, leading the way with 17 points and 11 rebounds. He also added two assists.
Damani Claxton (Bronx, N.Y.) was right behind him with 15 points, Britt chipped in 11 with seven of his points coming from the free throw line (7-for-8), and
Sebastian Mendoza (Riverside, Calif.) scored 10 with seven rebounds. Both Claxton and
Wayne Wiggins (Mansfield, Texas) led the team with three assists, and Mendoza blocked two shots, including one with 1:31 remaining in the game as the Mustangs were trying to cut into the six-point lead.
Cortaviaus Seales led the game with 20 points and three steals, playing 39:30 of the 40 minutes. He also had a game-high five offensive rebounds. Andre Harris led the Mustangs with eight rebounds, while Harris, Carson Kelly and Keyton Dorsey each scored 13 and Kelly had a game-high five assists.
The game featured 17 ties and 13 lead changes, and the Mustangs held the advantage for 17:58, while the Rattlers led for 16:09. St. Mary's scored 46 of its 80 points in the paint and 25 from the free throw line.
The Rattlers rematch with Sul Ross State on Saturday at 3 p.m. StMU won the meeting on Nov. 26, 85-44, and the Lobos lost 66-52 at St. Edward's on Thursday night, as the home team won five of the six games in the league.
