HOBBS, NM---Head Coach Cory Hitchcock did not mince words Friday night after his Mustangs dropped their game to Western NM 91-77. "We didn't do a good job of bringing energy to the game. We didn't have energy at shoot around this morning and it carried over. We started out flat for sure. We can't do that, we need to show up ready to go at practice and games. You play like you practice, so when we practice lethargic, it causes us to play lethargic." said Head Coach Cory Hitchcock. 

USW did not come out with their usual scratch and claw tough defense, as they allowed a season high 51 points in the 1st half Friday night. Western NM was 48.6% (17-35) from 3-PT land and forced 22 Mustang turnovers throughout the game. 

Despite the result, Coach Hitchcock saw several good things from his team on Friday night. "We got some good play from Derrick (Hall) and Josh (Harris) tonight at times.  New York (Emmanuel McNeil) turned it on there in the 2nd half, which is promising." said Hitchcock. Derrick Hall tied a career high for points on Friday night with 12, including 6-8 from the FT line. Hall was also 3-3 from the field and had 4 rebounds and 2 assists. Joshua Harris led USW in scoring with 16 points on 8-11 shooting. The 'Silent Assassin' had another quietly productive night with 4 rebounds and 1 assist in 29 minutes of play. Emmanuel McNeil had 10 points and 5 rebounds in 21 minutes of play. 

Freshman Hunter Metteauer had a career night for the Mustangs as he had 10 points in 13 minutes of play. The true freshman was 4-7 from the field including 2-4 from 3-PT land. Metteauer also had 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Coach Hitchcock got a little bit deeper into his rotation on Friday night and gave some valuable minutes to young guys hungry for some action. "I think these young guys are hungry. When our top guys aren't performing, we have to give our young guys a chance to prove themselves. It was good to give these guys some experience and play some tough competition. The bench did a great job tonight." said Hitchcock. 

The Mustangs travel to Odessa, TX on Sunday as they take on University of Texas-Permian Basin. Friday's game against Western NM began a tough stretch of Division 2 opponents for USW, as 5 of the 6 opponents for the Mustangs are NCAA Division 2 teams. Coach Hitchcock believes this is what his team needs to prepare for the Red River Conference schedule. "We all know we play in the toughest conference in the NAIA. That's why we have our schedule against five Division 2 schools, it's going to challenge and test you and hopefully make you better. We have to get back to the drawing board tomorrow and start working again. I have to do a better job of getting them mentally and physically prepared. But they also have to do a better job of focusing on the game plan and with some energy." said Hitchcock on the Mustangs tough schedule the next 3 weeks.