LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The New Mexico Highlands men's and women's basketball teams return to action this weekend after a two-week hiatus when the Cowboys and Cowgirls play host to Metro State on Friday (Jan. 3) and Regis on Saturday (Jan. 4). Both women's games are scheduled for 6 p.m. with the men following approximately 20 minutes following the conclusion of the women's games.
There are multiple ways you can follow all the action this weekend. All games will be available for broadcast by clicking
here. Live stats for all of the women's games are located by clicking
here. Live stats for all men's games are available by clicking
here.
Men's Basketball
The New Mexico Highlands men's basketball team (6-4, 3-3 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) is looking to break the cycle of split weekends when it plays host to #5 Metro State (8-1, 5-0 RMAC) and Regis (3-7, 0-5 RMAC). As a team, the Cowboys lead the conference and are 24th in the nation with 5.2 blocks per game.
Individually, senior
Mannie Cass has seen his scoring numbers go up since entering RMAC play in early December. Averaging only 10.5 points per game with only two double-digit scoring efforts in the non-conference schedule, Cass leads the conference in RMAC games-only with 24.2 points per game. He has improved his scoring on the season by more than eight points per game since entering conference play and now is fifth in the conference and 89th in the nation with 18.7 points per game.
Three Cowboys have seen increases of nine+ minutes in conference play. Senior
Dominick Baca - who only played in two of the four non-conference games - has played in every RMAC game and has three starts. His scoring has gone up from 3.5 points per game in the non-conference season to 5.5 points per game currently. Junior
Luis Rodriguez-Quintana, who was only averaging 2.7 points per game in the non-conference, is second on the team in RMAC play with 8.8 points per game. His playing time has increased by 9.7 minutes per game in conference play. Rodriguez-Quintana has reached double-digits in 3-of-6 conference games, including a career-best 17 points on 6-9 shooting at UC-Colorado Springs. He also made all three shots from behind the arc.
Finally, junior
DaLand Stafford has seen his minutes increase from to 13 minutes per game in conference play from four in the non-conference play. Stafford only had one point in non-conference play but has 27 in six games in RMAC play.
Scouting Metro State
The Roadrunners enter Friday night's contest ranked number five in the nation after an 8-1 (5-0 RMAC) start to the season. They are top-100 in the nation in numerous statistical categories, including a stingy defense which allows only 65.2 points per game (25th in the nation). Metro State is also very strong with the ball as it is fifth in the nation with only 8.9 miscues per game and third in the nation with an 8.4 turnover margin. However, the Cowboys could halt the Roadrunners undefeated mark in the conference if Highlands is able to get hot from behind the arc. Teams hit a blazing 37.7 percent of their triples against the Roadrunners. In turn, Metro State is 253rd in the nation with only five three-pointers a game.
Brandon Jefferson is the catalyst for the Roadrunners with 19.9 points per game (61st in the nation), makes 50 percent of his three-pointers (19th in the nation) and grabs three steals per game (eighth in the nation). Mitch McCarron contributes 16.7 points per game.
Scouting Regis
Regis is 3-7 overall and has dropped all five RMAC games, but the Rangers should not be taken lightly. Losing its first three conference games at home by at least 12 points, Regis dropped its last two on the road by only six points. The Cowboys have the potential of a hot shooting night as Regis is in the bottom-third of the nation in both field goal defense (45.9 percent) and three-point field goal defense (36.5 percent).
Jarrett Green leads the Rangers with 14.5 points per game. He is also one of the tops in the nation in both free-throw percentage (84.4 percent). Kevin Marshall also has an 84.4 percent mark from the line with a 10.7 points per game average.
Women's Basketball
The New Mexico Highlands University women's basketball team enters the new year looking to snap a four-game losing streak. Senior
China Smith continues to lead the team with 10.3 points per game and 9.8 rebounds per game (44th in the nation). While the Cowgirls are 208th in the nation with 65.6 points per game, Highlands responds with a stingy defense. The Cowgirls are 89th in the nation with 64.3 points per game and 101st in the nation by allowing opponents to only shoot 38.1 percent per game.
In Highlands bid to hand CSU-Pueblo its first conference loss in its last game Dec. 21, the Cowgirls held their opponents to just 17-51 (33.3 percent) from the field.
Two players have seen increased playing time and scoring in RMAC play. Senior
TJ Manson had more minutes per game (16) and points per game (seven), however, Manson only played in 1-of-3 non-conference games. Manson has played in four conference games, making three starts. In her first career start against Colorado Mesa on Dec. 14, Manson scored 14 points, grabbed six boards, rejected four shots and made two steals.
A preseason RMAC All-Conference selection, senior
Alyssa Lopez has played in all six conference games after only playing in one non-conference game. In the Cowgirls lone conference win, Lopez came off the bench for 12 points on 5-11 shooting (45.5 percent) and three steals. Lopez is averaging 5.3 points per game in RMAC play, compared to five points in her lone non-conference game.
Scouting Metro State
Metro State enters the contest 3-6 overall and 2-3 in conference play. The Cowgirls, who are 274th in the nation with 23.7 fouls per game, must keep the Roadrunners off the line. Metro State makes the most of its trips to the charity stripe, making 76.2 percent of its free throws (21st in the nation). Highlands' defense has a chance to shine as the Roadrunners only average 62.4 points per game (245th in the nation), but they counter by only allowing 62.9 points per game (68th in the nation) themselves.
Three Roadrunners average double-digit scoring. Cassie Lambrecht leads the way with 12.4 points per game and is 66th in the nation in free-throw percentage, hitting 85.7 percent of her attempts. Amy Nelson adds 12 points per game, while Tai Jensen contributes 10.9 points per game. No other player averages more than six points per game.
Scouting Regis
Regis enters the weekend 5-4 overall and 3-2 in RMAC play. The Rangers like to shoot from beyond the arc, ranking eighth in the nation with 8.9 three-pointers per game. It will be the high-powered Regis offense (75.7 points per game, 66th in the nation) against the staunch Cowgirls defense (89th in the nation, 64.3 points per game). While Regis is high scoring, the Rangers are allowing 75 points per game (250th in the nation).
Tae'Lor Purdy serves as the Rangers biggest threat, as she is top-20 in the nation in both points (21.7) and rebounds (12) per game. While she is a force inside, she also has shooting touch from beyond the arc, making more than three three-pointers a game and is hitting 50 percent of her outside shots. Brandi Collins helps keep the high-powered Regis offense running with 4.7 assists per game (49th in the nation) and a 1.91 assist/turnover ratio (64th in the nation).
Next Up
The New Mexico Highlands basketball teams continue its home stand next weekend when they play host to Fort Lewis on Jan. 10 and Adams State on Jan. 11. The women's games begin at 6 p.m. with the men's games following approximately 20 minutes following the women's games.
