DURANGO, Colo. – The Cowboys whittled a 10-point deficit down to two in the second half, but they could not get any closer as the New Mexico Highlands Cowboys (1-12, 1-8 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) fell to regionally ranked Fort Lewis (11-3, 6-2 RMAC) 83-76 Friday night (Jan. 9) in Durango, Colorado.
Down 63-56 with 7:32 to play, junior
Jonathon Mines split from line before taking a defensive board coast-to-coast for the fastbreak layup. Classmate
Kendrick Nichols then rejected a Fort Lewis shot right to junior teammate
Charles George, who threw the ball back to Nichols for the fastbreak dunk. With three minutes left and the Cowboys down 71-68, Mines missed a potential game-tying three.
Fort Lewis used a 32-40 edge, compared to 16-22 for the Cowboys, from the line in the game as Highlands made five more field goals on the night. Nichols had 24 points while Mines turned in 20 points, seven assists (with no turnovers) and six rebounds. George had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Alex Hererra led the home team with 27 points on 7-13 shooting and a 13-15 mark from the charity stripe, but the national leader in double-doubles was denied his 11th, finishing with only eight boards.
Down 22-13 in the first half, the Cowboys scored nine unanswered to tie the game. George grabbed a defensive board and went the distance for a fastbreak hoop. Nichols drained a triple before it was sophomore
Ricky Norris' turn to grab a defensive board and drive right to the basket for a score. Senior
Luis Rodriguez-Quintana hit a jumper to tie the game at 22.
However, Austin Haldorson answered with a jumper for Fort Lewis to ignite its own 9-0 spurt. Lucas Archuleta drained a triple and a pair of free throws by Rasmus Bush and Herrera put the home team up 31-22 with 5:53 before half. Highlands never trailed by less than six the rest of the half as the Skyhawks led 42-34 at the break.
The Cowboys return to action tomorrow at Adams State at 7:30 p.m.
