Box Score LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The Cowboys led by seven at halftime, but the Cougars shot 8-14 (57.1 percent) from beyond the arc in the second half as the New Mexico Highlands men's basketball team (11-14, 8-13 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) fell to Colorado Christian (15-10, 13-8 RMAC) 74-71 Saturday night (Feb. 22) in Las Vegas, N.M.
The Cowboys trailed 63-58 with 2:43 left before a pair of triples by junior
Terrance Lafayette and senior
Lavell McDade around a pair of free throws by Colorado Christian brought the Cowboys within one. However, Highlands could not complete the comeback as the Cougars went 7-8 from the free throw line in the final 2:13.
However, that one free throw miss left the door open for Highlands. Down 71-66 with 24 seconds left, senior
Stuart Sullivan came down and drained a triple to bring Highlands back within two. Both teams hit a pair from the charity stripe before Colorado Christian's Zach Freeman split from the line with nine seconds left. However, senior
Stargell Love's triple try fell short as the Cougars held on for the win.
Sullivan came off the bench for a game-high 20 points, including a 4-9 mark from beyond the arc. McDade added 18 points while Love put a solid game together with nine assists – eight in the first half – seven rebounds and six points.
The Cougars rallied in the second half thanks to making four-consecutive field goals from beyond the arc. Trailing 52-49, the Cougars' Zach Freeman tied the game on a three-pointer. After a stop, Kyle Weaver hit a triple. Both teams split from the charity stripe before McDade brought the Cowboys within 57-56 with a pair of free throws with 4:18 left. However, Avery Redmond put the visitors up four with a three-pointer.
Sullivan hit another pair from the line, but Weaver capped the Cougars spurt with another three-pointer to put Colorado Christian up 63-58 with 2:43 left.
Weaver was 4-8 from beyond the arc and finished the game with 18 points. Redmond came off the bench for 16 points, including hitting all 10 attempts from the charity stripe. Freeman added 12 while Wayne McCollough added 11.
In the first half, the game was tied at 20 with 6:27 left before an 8-1 run gave the home team its largest lead of the game. Sullivan hit a jumper before Colorado Christian split from the line. Senior
Drew Martin hit a triple and McDade split from the line. Senior
Mannie Cass capped the run with a layup.
Cass finished the game with nine points and nine rebounds.
The New Mexico Highlands men's basketball team concludes its season next Saturday afternoon (March 1) against Western New Mexico. Game time is set for 5 p.m.
