Elks Close Out Arizona Trip Against NNM

The Stanton University men's basketball team wrapped up their Arizona road trip on Saturday afternoon, falling 75-64 to Cal Pac newcomer Northern New Mexico. Despite a dominant effort on the glass, the Elks (3-12, 1-2 Cal Pac) were unable to overcome a cold shooting performance in the double-digit loss at the Scott Activity Center.

Game Recap

The contest was a defensive grind from the start, with Northern New Mexico holding a slim 33-29 lead at the break. Stanton struggled to find their rhythm from deep, shooting just 11.1% (2-of-18) from beyond the arc for the game.

While the Elks dominated the boards—out-rebounding the Eagles 52-41 and grabbing 20 offensive rebounds—they couldn't convert those second chances into enough points to keep pace. Northern New Mexico utilized a balanced attack and a strong bench performance to pull away in the second half, outscoring Stanton 42-35 in the final frame.

Stanton's Top Performers

Despite the loss, several Elks posted strong individual numbers:

• Rafael Gomez: The standout of the afternoon, Gomez recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. He was aggressive throughout his 32 minutes, adding 3 assists and 2 steals to his stat line.

• Yasuhide Hino: Providing a major spark off the bench, Hino matched the team high with 15 points and added 6 rebounds in 25 minutes of action.

• Jermaine Patton Jr.: The reserve guard reached double figures with 10 points and 4 rebounds, providing much-needed energy for the second unit.

• Jacob Lee: Lee was a force in the paint, hauling in 10 rebounds (5 offensive) to go along with 7 points and 2 steals.

Looking Ahead

Stanton will look to bounce back as they return home to address their shooting woes. While the rebounding effort shows the team's grit, improving their 54.5% free-throw clip and field goal efficiency will be a priority for the coaching staff moving forward.