WNMU Mustangs Make Historic Lone Star Conference Tournament Debut, Fall to St. Mary’s

FRISCO, TX — The Western Latest Mexico University (WNMU) Mustangs (22-7, 15-5 Lone Star) competed in their first-ever Lone Star Conference (LSC) tournament on Thursday night, facing a tough 80-94 defeat against St. Mary’s University (TX) (21-8, 13-7 Lone Star) at Comerica Center. Despite a strong performance in the paint with 36 points, the Mustangs were unable to overcome the Rattlers’ effective shooting, which included eight three-pointers [1].

First Half Struggles

The Mustangs began the game with a layup from Andre Harris, setting an initial tempo. However, St. Mary’s quickly gained momentum, establishing a 43-29 lead by halftime. While Harris consistently contributed, including a key tip-in, Western New Mexico struggled to match the Rattlers’ scoring opportunities [1].

Second Half Rally and Final Result

Western New Mexico demonstrated resilience in the second half, with Tanner Poeschl hitting back-to-back three-pointers to narrow the gap. Despite continued efforts in the paint, including a tip-in from Quincy Adams, St. Mary’s maintained their lead through precise shooting and capitalizing on turnovers. St. Mary’s secured the victory with a final score of 94-80 [1].

Key Player Performances

Andre Harris led the Mustangs with 20 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists, achieving a double-double. Cortaviaus Seales added 12 points and six assists, while Trenton Gordon contributed 12 points and nine rebounds. Carson Kelly rounded out the scoring with 13 points and three assists [1].

For St. Mary’s, Lawyer Jones led with 20 points, followed by Damani Claxton with 19 points, three steals, and four assists. Eddie McPhee contributed defensively with three blocks and six rebounds, and Wayne Wiggins added 17 points, nearly perfect from the free-throw line [1].

Team Standings

The WNMU Mustangs now hold a record of 22-7 overall and 15-5 in Lone Star Conference play. The St. Mary’s Rattlers stand at 21-8 overall with a 13-7 record in the LSC [1].

About Western New Mexico University Athletics

Western New Mexico University is a member of the NCAA Division II and the Lone Star Conference. For more information about Mustang Athletics, visit wnmumustangs.com. Follow the Mustangs on social media: @WNMUathletics (X, TikTok & Instagram) [2].