ABILENE, TEXAS — Fourteenth ranked Abilene Christian (15-2; LSC South 2-0) used a late 18-6 run to pull away from the Eastern New Mexico University men’s basketball team (6-12; LSC South 0-3) and hand the Greyhounds a 63-53 defeat in Lone Star Conference South Division action Tuesday night at Moody Coliseum. Senior guard Justin Redman-Trotter (Milwaukee, Wisc./North Iowa Area CC/Marquette Univ. HS), currently the fourth leading scorer in the LSC paced ENMU offensively with 22 points, marking the fifth time in his last seven games that he surpassed the 20-point plateau.

Neither team could sustain momentum for long in the first half until the Wildcats snapped a 27-all tie with a 9-2 run to seize their largest lead of the first half, 34-29, with 1:32 left in the period. Redman-Trotter hit a jumper with two seconds left to trim the halftime deficit to 34-29.

Cameron Holson hit back-to-back lay-ups to open the second half, but Redman-Trotter answered with back-to-back buckets of his own. After the teams traded baskets for nearly seven minutes with neither team getting the upper hand, Travis Cooper (Jr., F, Fayetteville, N.C./Clinton JC/Trinity Christian Prep) hit a lay-up with 9:57 left in the contest to pull Eastern even for the first time in the second half at 50-all. After a Chad Johnson (Jr., G, Antioch, Calif./San Jose JC/Antioch HS) steal, Redman-Trotter hit a lay-up to give the Hounds a 52-50 lead. After an exchange of baskets had ENMU holding a 54-52 edge, Callahan hit back-to-back three-pointers to spark a 16-2 Wildcat run, giving ACU a 68-56 lead with 2:59 remaining. The Hounds pulled to within nine points twice, but could come no closer as Abilene held on for the win.

The Wildcats held a 43-33 edge on the boards, but Eastern had a 16-11 advantage on the offensive glass. The Hounds committed a season-low eight turnovers.

Redman-Trotter finished with 22 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Johnson finished with a season-best 17 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, posting the first double-double of his career. Matt Churchman (Fr., G, Rio Rancho, N.M.) added 12 points for the Hounds. Holson led ACU with 16 points.

The Eastern New Mexico University men’s basketball team will continue Lone Star Conference South Division play on Saturday, when they host Angelo State. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. MST.