The Skyline Newspaper

The Lobos end a three-game losing streak by defeating McMurry soundly by a 13-point lead. Photo by Jason Hennington

Lobo Men Quit Losing Streak with McMurry Victory

Fueled by hot-shooting Roderick Gunter, Sul Ross State University halted a three-game losing string with a 70-57 victory over visiting McMurry University Saturday, Feb. 2, at the Gallego Center.

Gunter, Houston Westside, tallied 19 points to lead three players in double figures as the Lobos improved to 7-12, 6-9 in American Southwest Conference West Division play.

Gunter has averaged 25 points over the past four games and added eight rebounds and four assists in Saturday's win. Coach Greg Wright's team travels back to Abilene this week for return matches with Hardin-Simmons University Thursday, Feb. 7, at 7:30 p.m., and McMurry Saturday, Feb. 9, at 3:00 p.m. HSU trimmed Sul Ross 87-82 Jan. 31 at the Gallego Center.

Sul Ross trailed only once in Saturday's contest against McMurry 8-11, 5-10 ASC West, and built a 32-27 halftime advantage. Moises Morales', Fort Hancock, three-pointer established the largest lead at 30-21 with 4:14 left.

McMurry never climbed closer than four points, 32-28, in the second half. The Lobos built a double-digit margin, 45-34, on Art Gonzalez', El Paso Eastwood, layup with 14:21 left. Gunter and Gonzalez combined for eight points to build Sul Ross' largest margin, 56-37, with 7:33 to play.

The Lobos netted44 percent of their field goal attempts (24-54), seven of 21 from three-point range, and meshed 15 of 21 free throws to seven of 10 for McMurry. Gonzalez and Morales added 15 points apiece, while Fili Torres, Clint, and Jermaine Packer, Midland Lee, contributed eight points and eight rebounds each. The winners held a 41-31 rebound advantage.

Alex Robles led three McMurry players in double figures, scoring 15.

Hardin-Simmons established a 38-32 halftime edge Thursday evening and held the Lobos at bay with 62 percent shooting (33-53).

Gunter and Torres combined for 50 points to keep Sul Ross in contention, but Wright's team never led after a brief 25-24 margin with 9:07 left in the first session.

The Cowboys extended their advantage to 12 points several times before Gunter and Torres led a late comeback. Gunter's layup shaved the margin to 71-67 with 3:57 to play and Torres' trey made the score 84-78 with 15 ticks left.

Gunter finished with 26 points, Torres added 24 and Gonzalez 11 as the Lobos shot 46 percent (31-67), including eight of 15 from long range, and made 12 of 19 free throws.

HSU, led by Rob Yeatts' 26 points and 23 points and 12 rebounds from Mardochee Jean, connected on six of 14 three-pointers and 15 of 18 at the foul line. The Cowboys held a 31-28 rebound edge.     

The Ladies Aren't as Lucky

Two of the American Southwest Conference's three top women's basketball teams invaded the Gallego Center and left with victories over the weekend.

Hardin-Simmons, third in the ASC West Division, scored a 74-63 win Thursday, Jan. 31, while second-place McMurry rallied in the second half for a 78-59 triumph Saturday.

Coach David Tandy's Lady Lobos, 6-13 overall, 5-10 ASC West Division, make the return trip to Abilene this week: against Hardin-Simmons Thursday, Feb. 7, at 5:30 p.m., and McMurry Saturday, Feb. 9, at1:00 p.m.

HSU established a 10-point halftime lead (38-28) and never trailed throughout Thursday night's contest. Sul Ross tied the score at 14-14 with 13:14 left in the half before a 9-0 Cowgirl run.

Nitra Woods', Andrews, three-point play cut the gap to 48-41 with 15 minutes left, but the Lady Lobos never drew closer. Woods finished with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Morgan Johnson, Christoval, tallied 15 and Angelique Benton, El Paso Parkland, 10. Sul Ross shot 40 percent from the floor (23-58), six of 14 from three-point range and hit 11 of 18 free throws.

Ashley Allen tallied 20 points for the Cowgirls, 15-4, 12-3 ASC. Linsdey Newcombe grabbed 10 rebounds as the winners held a 43-32 edge on the boards. HSU hit 30 of 62 shots, 48 percent, six of 15 treys and eight of 12 free throws.

A determined Lady Lobo squad battled McMurry, 17-2, 14-1, evenly for over 30 minutes Saturday before fading. Sul Ross, with four players in double figures, held its last lead, 46-44, with 12:56 to play, and stayed within reach until the last seven minutes.

Casi Tribbett's, Eden, two free throws pulled Sul Ross within 61-56 with 8:50 left before McMurry used a 7-0 run to establish a double-digit lead. The Lady Lobos managed just three points thereafter, enabling the winners to pull away.

Isela Garza, El Paso Eastwood, led the Sul Ross attack with 15 points, Benton tallied 13, Woods ll, and Janice Mitchell, Round Rock Stony Point, netted 10, along with three assists and three steals. The Lady Lobos shot 36 percent (20-56), five of 11 from three-point range and 14 of 23 at the foul stripe. Garza had six rebounds and Woods and Brittany Hatch, Richardson Pearce, snared five each.

McMurry netted 37 percent of its shots (28-75), but were aided by a 51-37 rebound advantage. Tarra Richardson scored 20 and pulled down 10 boards, while Allison Nelson scored 11 and two others hit 10 each.

Pallanez to Retire Effective June

SRSU head baseball coach Mike Pallanez announced his retirement on Monday, Feb. 4, to take effect on June 1, 2008, after seven years with the Lobo program.

Pallanez, (49-187 SRSU career after 2007 campaign), earned his bachelor of science (1967) and master's degree (1974) in education from Sul Ross. He assumed head coach duties in December 2000 after 25 years as one of Texas' most successful high school baseball coaches.

He amassed more than 400 victories during a 25-year career at Alpine High School. Pallanez's AHS teams won 17
district championships and numerous bi-district, area, and regional titles. He was named district high school coach of the year 10 times in 12 years (from 1989-2000), was named the Permian Basin coach of the year in 1998, and the West Texas coach of the year in 1994 by the Odessa American and San Angelo Standard Times, respectively.

With the exception of one year at the Fabens Independent School District, Pallanez's entire career in education has been spent in Alpine.

"I would like to thank the university for the many opportunities for personal and professional growth," Pallanez said on Monday. "I'm looking forward to enjoying retirement but I will miss the relationships, both personal and professional, that have been established with the faculty in the kinesiology department and the student-athletes."

"We will begin the search process for a new baseball coach on the national market very shortly," Sul Ross Director of Athletics Kay Whitley said Tuesday.