New Mexico in Australia, Day 5: Hugh Greenwood shines in front of family and friends
Whereas most of the New Mexico players didn't have much pressure on them during the second exhibition game of their tour of Australia on Thursday night, it was a bit different for guard Hugh Greenwood.
The Australian native had more than 30 friends and family members in the bleachers for New Mexico's 78-66 victory over the SEABL all-stars, a team made up players from the Kilsyth Cobras and other Aussie pro teams.
Greenwood did not disappoint those who came to watch him play on Aussie soil, showing off his versatility with a statsheet-stuffing performance. He delivered 13 points, eight rebounds and five steals and capped a game-changing 13-2 New Mexico run to open the fourth quarter with a key three-point play.
It was special for Greenwood to play well Thursday because he doesn't get to play in front of friends and family too often. Greenwood's parents and younger sister Josie, an incoming freshman on the New Mexico women's basketball team, came all the way from Tasmania to watch Thursday's game, either a short flight or a day-long car trip requiring a ferry ride across the Bass Strait.
Greenwood wasn't the only star for a New Mexico team that has now won its first two games of the three-game Australia trip. Center Alex Kirk had 26 points and nine boards, guard Kendall Williams had 16 points and wing Cleveland Thomas delivered 11, making a case for himself as a potential starter in place of NBA-bound Tony Snell.
Still, the night belonged to Greenwood. He chatted with Kirk and Williams in the video below about how special it was to introduce his teammates to Australian Rules Football on Thursday morning and how much fun it was to play in front of so many familiar faces in the evening.
Junior guard Hugh Greenwood:
New Mexico coach Craig Neal:
Previously in the series:
• New Mexico in Australia, Day 1: Lobos arrive in Sydney after grueling travel day
• New Mexico in Australia, Day 2: Appendicitis delays Cullen Neal's long-awaited debut
• New Mexico in Australia, Day 3: Lobos open Craig Neal era with a comeback win
• New Mexico in Australia, Day 4: Merv Lindsay celebrates birthday in aboriginal garb
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