Box Score LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Senior
Mannie Cass sent the game to double overtime with two clutch shots and New Mexico Highlands University (5-2, 2-1 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) finished off Western State (0-6, 0-3 RMAC) in the second extra session as the Cowboys knocked off the Mountaineers 101-99 Friday night (Dec. 13) at the John A. Wilson Complex.
With 1.8 seconds remaining and Highlands trailing 83-80, junior
Luis Rodriguez Quintana threw the ball from underneath the Mountaineers basket to hit classmate
Jeverik Nelson at the top of the arc. In midair, Nelson shoveled the ball off to Cass, who drained a three from left elbow to extend the game into overtime.
In the first overtime, Cass again extended the game again with a jumper in the paint with one second left. It was the second Friday game in as many weeks that went into double overtime.
Tied at 97 with 2:05 left in the game, Western State's Mannie Biddle drove with the shot clock winding down. Cass blocked the ball back to Biddle, but the shot clock expired and Highlands gained possession. Quintana missed the ensuing lay-up, but Nelson grabbed the board and dunked the ball to put the Cowboys up two. Jordan Adams tied the game with a pair of free throws with 44 seconds left, but for the third-straight period, it was Cass who scored the final points with a pair from the charity stripe. Western State took possession with 14 seconds left, but a fade away three from Jordan Adams clanged off the rim.
Both of Highlands RMAC wins this season have been in double overtime.
Cass led all scorers with a career-best 41 points, including a stellar 17-19 mark from the charity stripe. Nelson added 17 points while Quintana came off the bench for 14 points, five assists and three steals. Senior
Dominick Baca added 12 point in reserve for the Cowboys.
For the game, Highland went 27-30 (90 percent) from the free throw line to seal the win.
New Mexico Highlands trailed Western State 76-74 late in regulation when a three by Baca put the Cowboys back up by one. Adams quickly answered with a triple for the Mountaineers, one of 13 three-pointers for the visitors on the night. Baca answered with another trey, but Devin Kastrup made a layup with eight seconds left to put Western State up 81-80.
After a Cowboys turnover, Adams hit a pair from the line to set up the buzzer-tying shot by Cass.
Adams led the visitors with 29 points, including a 4-6 mark from beyond the arc. Biddle added 21 and a game-best eight rebounds.
Down 32-24 early – the largest deficit of the contest - the Cowboys scored 13 unanswered to reclaim the lead in the first half. Baca made a pair from the charity stripe and Quintana added the layup off a Western State miscue. Highlands forced a missed shot and senior
Stuart Sullivan hit his lone three of the ballgame to cut the deficit to one. Quintana made a layup and then grabbed a steal. Cass hit a pair from the line to put Highlands up three.
Quintana punctuated the run with a fast break layup to put New Mexico Highlands up 37-32. Highlands got out and ran whenever it could for the game, outscoring Western State 24-4 in fast break points.
Western State cut the deficit to one right before half, but Nelson completed a three the hard way to give the Cowboys a 44-40 halftime edge.
New Mexico Highlands returns to action Saturday night (Dec. 14) when it hosts Colorado Mesa. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m.
