PORTALES, N.M. – The Cameron University men’s basketball team suffered a setback falling in a close game 74-72 to Eastern New Mexico on Wednesday night at the Greyhound Arena.

Cameron (12-7, 8-5 LSC) had a late opportunity to take a late one point lead but missed a late key free throw and Eastern New Mexico (10-10; 7-6 LSC) got a last second jumper to squeak by with the win.

Craig Foster led the Aggies with 19 points and seven assists.  While Aaron Thompson scored 15 points off the bench, six boards, and three blocks.  Both Tim Johnson and Andrew Thomas “Country” fell a point short of a double-double, Johnson had 11 rebounds, and Thomas put up 10, respectively.

Rodney Blackmon led the Greyhounds with 22 points and added five assists.  Rafael Love gave his team a double-double game with 19 points and 11 boards.

Finding a rhythm on the court proved to be a struggle for Cameron in the first half as they went 28.6 percent from the field (10-35).  The Greyhounds fared better going 40.6 percent (13-32) with Love getting 14 points off of 5-7 shooting.  For Cameron, Foster added 11 first half points to help keep pace with Eastern New Mexico.

In the second half, Cameron jumped ahead early taking a three point lead after a Trevor Smith jumper.  However, Eastern New Mexico fought back quickly and tied the game before both teams got locked in trading buckets. 

The trouble started for the Aggies at about the 14 minute mark where the Greyhounds went on a 10-3 run opening a seven point lead, 53-46, over Cameron with 10:02 left to play. 

Eastern New Mexico maintained the lead over Cameron until the final four minutes.  The Aggies went on a quick 5-0 run trimming the Greyhound lead to one point, 68-67 with 3:18 remaining.  In the next play, Blackmon proved to be clutch for ENMU and nailed a three-ball to make it a two possession game 71-67 with 3:01 left.

Following the media timeout, Cameron got a pair from the line and a Thomas jumper to tie game for the third time at 71.  ENMU had the ball with the shot clock off before CU fouled Jordan Romero and sent him to the line for two.  Romero would go 1-for-2 at the line giving the Greyhounds a one point lead with 23 seconds left.  In the next possession Foster was fouled and he would go 1-for-2 at the line locking the game up at 72.  Now with the ball, ENMU ran down the court and Blackmon hit a jumper with two seconds left to win the game, 74-72.

Throughout the night Cameron’s shooting greatly improved, hitting 53.6 percent in the second half, and ending at 39.7 percent (25-63) from the field; while Eastern New Mexico went 43.3 percent.  

The Aggies dominated the rebounding battle, crashing the boards 43 times, compared to the Greyhounds’ 31.

A key difference for both teams was in the turnover battle with Cameron having 14, while Eastern New Mexico had only four.

The Aggies will travel back to Lawton and face West Texas A&M in a key Lone Star Conference matchup on Feb. 9 at 4 p.m. in the Aggie Gym.