Portales, N.M. – Senior Eddie Lopez, making his first start of the season, hit a 3-point basket with 10 seconds left as the Javelinas rallied from down 15 points in the second half to beat Eastern New Mexico 78-76 at Greyhound Arena.

   Kia Griffin, coming off the bench for the first time all year, scored a season high 18 points, just one point shy of his career high, Lopez and Rickey Huckaby added 15 and Bobby Pandy added 12.

   Lopez scored all his points from beyond the 3-point arch, hitting 5-of-6 3-point shots.

   The win improved the Javelinas to 16-7 overall and 3-5 in the LSC South Division, keeping them in the race for the fourth and final spot to the LSC Postseason Tournament.

   Eastern New Mexico fell to 9-13 and 3-5 in league play.

   It was the second straight last second victory in a week for the Javelinas over the Greyhounds and gave them the tiebreaker over Eastern in the race for fourth place.

   Stephen Story’s tip-in with three seconds left gave the Hogs an 85-84 victory in Kingsville last Saturday.

   "We had to hang together and hang tough and we did that," said Javelina head coach Pete Peterson.  "Stephen Story set an excellent pick, Wendell Mulkey made a perfect pass and Eddie hit a very tough shot off a shot fake."

  The Javelinas got back into the game thanks to a 10-1 run with less than seven minutes left in the game.

  Trailing 61-54, Lopez knocked down a 3-point basket to cut the lead to 61-57.  Pandy then drew an offensive foul and made two free throws to cut the lead to 61-59 with 6:40 left in the game.  Rickey Huckaby then stole the ball on the ensuing Greyhound possession, was fouled and made both free throws to tie the game at 61.

   After Eastern hit a free throw, Griffin grabbed an offensive rebound, scored was fouled, hit the free throw to give the Javelinas their first lead of the second half, 64-62 with just over five minutes to play.

   The lead changed hands three times and there were three ties until Mikal Monette scored on a lay-up with 2:04 remaining to give Eastern a 73-71 advantage.  

   Reggie Love with a 3-point basket as the shot clock expired to give the Javelinas a 74-73 lead with 1:30 left.

   Two free throws by Earl Fortenberry gave Eastern a 75-74 lead.

   Bobby Pandy was then called for a charge and fouled out of the game with 59 seconds left to play.

   Both teams then turned the ball over and the Javelinas fouled Fortenberry with 22 seconds left.  

   He made the second of two free throws to increase the lead to 76-74, setting up Lopez’s key shot.

   After Lopez knocked down the 3-point basket, Eastern inbounded the ball, but was called for travelling.

   Reggie Love was fouled with five seconds left, hit the second of two free throws and Eastern desperation halfcourt shot missed as the Javelinas escaped with the victory.

      "They looked a little tired and we hit some big shots," said Peterson.  "Kia came off the bench and did a great job.  

  The Javelinas played well early in the first half, leading by as many as four, 20-16.

   But the final seven and a half minutes of the half turned into the turning point of the game.

   Eastern New Mexico put together a game-changing 22-8 run to end the half.

   It began with a 14-0 run by the Greyhounds as they grabbed a 30-20 lead with 4:49 left in the half.

   Eastern build the lead to 14, 38-24, but the Javelinas tried to grab a bit of momentum by scoring the final four points on a lay-up by Bobby Pandy, a steal by Remi Yusuf and a dunk by Rickey Huckaby to cut the lead to 38-28 at the half.

   Eastern shot a red-hot 65 percent in the first half, hitting 15 of 23 shots and 6 of 7 free throws.