Box Score Las Vegas, N.M. – The NMHU Men's Basketball team hosted the Colorado Mesa University Mavericks on Feb. 15. The two teams played a very close game but NMHU prevailed, beating the Mavericks 74-70. The Cowboys are currently 9-9 in the RMAC and 11-11 in overall play under Head Coach Joe Harge.
In the first half, CMU jumped out to an early lead 13-3. The Cowboys responded with a scoring flurry of their own, cutting the lead to four (15-11).
Just as the deficit was closing, CMU was able to extend their lead once again. By the four minute mark, the Cowboys were down by fourteen points (29-15), the largest lead of the game for the Mavericks.
The Mavericks seemed to have control of the game, but the Cowboys would not stand by and watch. In a reaction to the deficit, the Cowboys created a 12-2 run reducing the lead to two points (31-29).
The Cowboys' rally was led by
Stuart Sullivan. He scored eight of the Cowboys' 12 points in the run, to end the half and send the teams into the locker room with CMU leading 31-29.
In the second half the Cowboys continued to cut into the Mavericks' lead. With the first basket of the second half,
Stargell Love was able to tie the game (31-31).
CMU was attempting to extend their lead once again but
Stargell Love and
Mannie Cass consistently put the ball through the net, keeping the game close. Love and Cass scored the majority of the Cowboys' second-half points. Love finished the game 10-13 scoring 24 points. Cass scored 13 points with two steals and one block.
The Cowboys managed to gain the lead by the 15:38 mark of the second half (41-40), but the Mavericks would soon climb back on top. From this point until the ending buzzer, the lead would change six times.
Within the last five minutes of the game, the two teams would find themselves tied again (63-63). In the final minutes, the Cowboys gained the lead making the score 67-65. They were able to hold on until the end, taking the victory on their home court by the final score of 74-70.
The Cowboys advance their record to 9-9 in the RMAC and 11-11 in overall play. The Cowboys are currently in seventh place in the RMAC and they remain in contention for the conference postseason tournament.
The Cowboys continue conference play, on Feb.16, against the Western State Colorado University Mountaineers. WSCU is currently in ninth place in the RMAC with a conference record of 8-10. The tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. at the John Wilson A. Wilson Complex, in Las Vegas, N.M.
GO COWBOYS!!!
