Box Score LAS VEGAS, N.M. – New Mexico Highlands University men's basketball lost Saturday night (Dec. 14) against Colorado Mesa University, 82-61. The Cowboys fall to 5-3, 2-2 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference while Colorado Mesa improves to 5-3, 3-1 in conference play.
The Cowboys fell behind 27-17 with 5:40 minutes to go in the first half as Colorado Mesa was able to capatalize on getting to the charity stripe. The Maverick shot 15-33 (45.5 percent) in the first half, while the Cowboys were held 10-24 (41.7 percent) in the first stanza.
Going into the second half down by 11, Colorado Mesa increased the lead to 46-26 with 17:54 left in the game. But the Cowboys battled back by hitting some shots and getting to the free throw line. Senior
Mannie Cass - who finished the night with a team-high 19 points - began heating up in the second half. He shot 8-9 (88.8 percent) from the charisty stripe for the night, finishing the weekend with a 25-28 mark for the weekend. Senior
Stargell Love, who came off the bench for 11 points, attacked the rim and scored nine points in the half alone. His jumper with 15:16 left in the game cut the Mavericks lead to 50-38, the closest the Cowboys climbed in the second half.
Ryan Stephan led a balanced Colorado Mesa scoring attack with 20 points. Landon Vermeer scored 12.
The men's basketball team returns to action Friday (Dec. 20), when it travels to take on the University of Colorado at Colorado State. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
