For the first time in three years, the Sul Ross State men's basketball team has won four games in a row.
On Saturday afternoon, the Lobos met a shorthanded University of the Southwest Mustang squad for a rematch at the Pete P. Gallego Center.
The Lobos defeated the Mustangs by three points in Hobbs, N.M. three weeks ago.
Sul Ross State had three players score in double digits to win, 95-59, the second go-around.
>> HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Lobos started the game with a three-pointer by
Trey Nelson that came off an assist by
Deveraux Minix.
University of the Southwest then went ahead by five with 13:27 to go.
Another three from Nelson later cut the deficit to one.
Tyler Jackson then landed a layup to put the Lobos on top, 16-15, with 10:46 on the clock.
Sul Ross State led by as much as 13 after
Gabe Sanchez hit a three-pointer with just under six and a half minutes to go in the first half.
The Lobos landed seven 3-pointers in the opening half.
Omar Ibarra ended the half with a three to give Sul Ross State a 12-point lead.
Hayden Peterson made a three to start the second half and then Nelson made a layup off the fast break to increase the Lobo lead to 17 points.
Using a 7-0 run, Sul Ross State ramped up its lead to 22 points with 16:34 on the clock.
The Lobo offense ignited some fireworks after a steal by
Cailean Ables led to a slam dunk by Jackson that was dished out by
Zyrin Brantley to up the lead to 24.
Sul Ross State put together a 16-0 run that featured four 3-pointers, which gave the Lobos a 36-point lead. Three of the shots from beyond the arc were landed by Nelson.
The Lobos closed out the contest with a 7-0 run that was highlighted by a dunk from
Jordan Rhyne and a layup by
Bryson Laird.
>> RECORDS: Sul Ross State (4-0)
>> POSTGAME INTERVIEWS:
"We're still figuring some stuff out offensively, but as long as we can dig in on the defensive end and find ways to win the game then we're putting ourselves in good positions. In the first half defensively, we played relaxed and then in the second half we picked up our ball pressure which led to easy steals and a lot more contribution on the offensive end. It all starts on our defensive effort. We're just going to have to rely on our maturity and our 4 to 1 mentality in the film room." —
Head coach Xavier Webb on the win
"We've just been having a lot of communication on the court. We've been playing as a team. The practices that we do (translate) to the game. We like to play our game, not by offense but by defense. We started off slow, but finished it off big." —
Tyler Jackson
"We just come out here and work hard every day together. There's a lot of good team chemistry right now. We got to tune some stuff up on the defensive end. We don't lose at home, so we'll be here ready to work. We got a really big team this year. A lot of people want to win, want to do better every single day. We just stay together." —
Trey Nelson
>> GAME NOTES:
- Fourteen different Lobos scored in the contest.
- Nelson led the way with 22 points, five assists and three steals. The 22 points are a season-high.
- Jackson finished with 19 points, seven rebounds and two steals.
- Sanchez added with 10 points and four boards.
- Bryce Harris grabbed seven rebounds while also scoring eight points.
- Brantley also finished with five assists.
- The Lobos had 46 rebounds to the 33 reeled in by the Mustangs.
- Sul Ross State knocked down 12 three-pointers. Nelson landed five.
- The Lobos shot 11 for 16 from the free throw line. Jackson went a perfect 7 for 7.
- Sul Ross State got 52 points from the bench which included a three from Jayden Canaba and a dunk by Myles Amason.
- This was the first time the Lobos won a game by 95 or more points since Feb. 19, 2022 when they defeated McMurry, 96-89, in the regular-season finale.
- This marks the first four-game winning streak since the 2019-2020 season. That season the Lobos won eight games in a row.
>> UP NEXT: Sul Ross State continues the seven-game homestand with a contest against Schreiner University on Monday, Nov. 27 at 5:30 p.m. CST.
