Box Score Las Vegas, N.M. – New Mexico Highlands University men's basketball team (6-5, 3-4 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) fell to #5 Metropolitan State University of Denver (9-1, 6-0 RMAC) on Friday (Jan. 3). The Cowboys fall to eighth place in the Rocky Mountain Athletics Conference.
The Cowboys fell behind early when Metro State hit a pair from behind the arc and completed an old-fashioned three-point play to go up 9-0. Senior
Dominick Baca scored first for the Cowboys with a pair of free throws.
Metro State held a 56-31 early in the second half before the Cowboys answered with eight unanswered. Junior
Terrance Lafayette grabbed a steal and made the ensuing fast break lay-up while being fouled. He completed the old-fashioned three to cut the deficit to 22. After Metro State hit a pair of free throws, senior
Stargell Love stole a pass and fed Lafayette for another lay-up. After a pair of defensive stops, senior
Mannie Cass made a lay-up and sophomore
Drew Martin hit a triple to bring the Cowboys within 17.
Senior
Stuart Sullivan capped the run with a jumper as Highlands trailed 58-43 with 13:04 left. Sullivan came off the bench to lead the Cowboys with 16 points for the game – including 12 in the first half alone. With the performance, Sullivan becomes the third Cowboy to average double-digit points per game on the season.
Metro State made 12-23 three-pointers (52.2 percent) for the game, including 8-14 (57.1 percent) in the first half alone. The Roadrunners also managed 22 points off of 20 Highlands turnovers. Brandon Jefferson scored a game-best 20 points while Mitch McCarron narrowly missed the triple-double (18 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists). Nicholas Kay also tallied 18 points for the visitors.
The Cowboys return to action Friday (Jan. 4) when they host region Regis, who picked up its first RMAC win Friday night when it knocked off Western New Mexico 74-67. If you cannot make it to the contest, the men's and women's games against the Rangers will be available on the America One Network.
