Box Score Las Vegas, N.M. – The NMHU Cowboy Basketball team ended their conference losing streak with a 77-71 victory over the Mountain Lions of the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs. Despite struggling with their shooting in the game, the Cowboys were able to pull themselves together in the second half. With the victory the Cowboys, led by Head Coach Joe Harge, are now 2-3 in the RMAC and 4-4 in overall play.
The Cowboys took the initial lead in the game. They were able to maintain a slight lead, but the Mountain Lions hung in there and finally took the lead with 13:39 left in the half.
Neither team was shooting particularly well in the first half, but UCCS was able to hold off the Cowboys until the 6:29 mark of the first half. The Cowboys tied the game up and then the lead exchanged hands several times. When the buzzer sounded to end the half, the Cowboys were up 34-33.
The Mountain Lions took back the lead in the second half, but the Cowboys regained the advantage with 17:03 left in the game. The lead changed hands several more times until the Cowboys put some distance on the score board midway through the second half.
UCCS kept fighting hard and they were able to go up by one point with just 4:22 left. The Cowboys composed themselves and began to grind the game to their advantage. They slowly pulled ahead and were in front by six points with just 48 seconds remaining. When the final buzzer sounded, the Cowboys were victorious by the final score of 77-71.
Stargell Love led the Cowboys to victory with 18 points in just 25 minutes on the court. Love was cutting through the lane and attacking the basked every time he touched the ball. He also added six assists and six rebounds to the Cowboys' efforts.
Mannie Cass scored 15 points in a team leading 32 minutes of playing time. Cass had three big-time blocks and grabbed six rebounds.
Augustus French rounds out the Cowboys' top performers with 10 points. French ended up with four rebounds, one assist, one blocked shot, and a steal in 22 minutes on the court.
The Cowboys will continue conference action again on 12/15, when they host the Thunderwolves of Colorado State University – Pueblo, in Las Vegas, N.M. CSU-Pueblo is currently ranked 12th in the RMAC with a 1-4 conference record and 2-9 in overall play.
GO COWBOYS!!!
