Box Score GOLDEN, Colo. – The Cowboys fell behind 15-1 and could never catch up as New Mexico Highlands University (4-2, 1-1 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) split its first conference weekend of the season with a 111-63 loss at #19 Colorado School of the Mines.
Both teams tried to get out and run in the game as both teams scored 14 fast break points. However, the Orediggers used a 59.4 percent (39-71) to 31.3 percent (21-67) shooting edge and a 32-14 advantage in points off turnovers.
Individually, junior
Luis Rodriguez Quintana led the Cowboys with 13 points with classmate
Augustus French adding six rebounds. Five different players scored in double-digits for the Orediggers, led by Trevor Wages' 19 points. Wages and Luke Meisch both recorded double-doubles with 10 boards. Meisch added 13 points.
Wages scored the first nine point of the contest before senior
Stargell Love split from the line to put Highlands on the scoreboard. Two free throws and a lay-up by Brian Muller around a Trevor Richie lay-up put the home team up 15-1 with 15:24 left in the first half. Colorado School of the Mines led 66-27 at half.
The Cowboys ended the game on a 10-2 run to cut into the final margin. Redshirt freshman
Justin Bustos hit a three and Rodriguez made a fastbreak lay-up on an outlet pass from Bustos. Ry Walter answered with a jumper for the home team, but junior
Alex Dantzler hit a three and Rodriguez made a pair of free throws for the final 48-point margin.
The men's basketball team closes out its home 2013 schedule next weekend when it hosts Western State on Friday (Dec. 13) and Colorado Mesa on Saturday (Dec. 14). Both games are scheduled for 8 p.m.
