Men's Basketball | 1/29/2015 4:28:00 PM
FRIDAY JAN. 30 - WOMEN'S BASKETBALL at CSU-PUEBLO: LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEOFRIDAY JAN. 30 - MEN'S BASKETBALL at CSU-PUEBLO: LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
SATURDAY JAN. 31 - WOMEN'S BASKETBALL at UC-COLORADO SPRINGS: LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
SATURDAY JAN. 31 - MEN'S BASKETBALL at UC-COLORADO SPRINGS: LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEOPUEBLO and COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The New Mexico Highlands basketball team interrupts their home stand with a quick trip up I-25 to wrap up January and take on CSU-Pueblo Friday (Jan. 30) and UC-Colorado Springs Saturday (Jan. 31).
The New Mexico Highland Cowboys (4-13, 4-9 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) look to build upon its three-game winning streak and make a late push for the RMAC Tournament against CSU-Pueblo (12-7, 8-5 RMAC) and UC-Colorado Springs (17-2, 11-2 RMAC). Before Christmas, the Cowboys fell to the Mountain Lions 99-71 before falling to CSU-Pueblo 89-68
To read more about the earlier game against UC-Colorado Springs, click
here. To read more about the earlier game against CSU-Pueblo, click
here.
The Cowboys are on a three-game winning streak after overcoming a double-digit deficit against rival Western New Mexico, 92-69. Junior
Kendrick Nichols scored a career-best 32 points on 11-18 shooting, including hitting 11 of his final 15 shots. He also scored 31 of the team's final 67 points and shot 8-10 in the second half alone – including 4-5 from beyond the arc.
To read more about the win against Western New Mexico, click
here. However, to focus on Nichols would be a disservice.
Ricky Norris has three double-doubles in his last three games, including a career high in points (18) in the win against Black Hills State and rebounds (11) against Western New Mexico. In fact, the sophomore guard has at least five rebounds in the last six games after having no more than four in his first five games in a Highlands uniform.
In the last six games, Norris has gone from 2.6 rebounds per game (not even in the top 50 in the conference) to 5.7 rebounds per game (13th in the RMAC).
The Cowgirls have a chance to make some noise against a pair of teams that are near the top of the conference in CSU-Pueblo (10-7, 8-5 RMAC) and UC-Colorado Springs (16-3, 11-2 RMAC). The Cowgirls lost a heartbreaker to the Mountain Lions back in December, 84-81, before overcoming a double-digit first half deficit to hand the Thunderwolves their first conference loss of the season, 64-54.
To read more about the game against UC-Colorado Springs, click
here. To read more about the game against CSU-Pueblo, click
here. The Cowgirls are coming off a tough, 72-59 loss to rivals Western New Mexico. The Mustangs, one of the best field goal percentage defensive teams in the nation, proved that very well. The Cowgirls had their second-lowest shooting percentage and fourth-lowest three-point shooting percentage of 2014-15 season.
To read more about the game against Western New Mexico, click
here. Scouting CSU-Pueblo Women Once again, the Cowgirls are staring at a game where they will face a stellar defense as CSU-Pueblo (10-7, 8-5 RMAC) is 24th in the nation by allowing only 58 points per game. Highlands scored 64 points on the Thunderwolves in the first game. Only rival UC-Colorado Springs, who currently leads the conference, has scored more points in conference play than the Cowgirls against CSU-Pueblo.
Three players for the Thunderwolves average double-digit scoring, led by Ashley Piper's 12.9 points and 7.5 boards. Katie Nehf adds 11.6 points and 7.8 rebounds.
Scouting UC-Colorado Springs Women Leading the conference, UC-Colorado Springs (16-3, 11-2 RMAC) looks to climb ever closer to clinching an RMAC tournament berth this weekend against the Cowgirls. It is the exact opposite of Friday's game, as the Mountain Lions like to score the ball at 78 points per game (19th in the nation) but are in the bottom half in terms of defense with 68 points per game (193rd in nation).
Despite the Mountain Lions being 41st in the nation by grabbing six more rebounds per game than their opponents, UC-Colorado Springs was outrebounded by the much smaller Cowgirls by seven back in December.
Abby Kirchoff is 15th in the nation with 21 points per game while Brittany Hernandez contributes 19.1 points and Brittany Hernandez adds 19.1 points and 9.7 points per game.
UC-Colorado Springs is currently fifth in the South Central Regional poll.
Scouting CSU-Pueblo Men If you like offense, this may be the game for you between the Cowboys and CSU-Pueblo (12-7, 8-5 RMAC). Both teams are in the top-75 in the nation in three-point attempts, including the Thunderwolves checking in at sixth. CSU-Pueblo in 54th in the nation with more than 80 points per game, in contrast, they surrender nearly 74 points per game.
Tyrone Marshall leads a balanced scoring team for the Thuderwolves, leading the team with 13.2 points per game. Three other players average double-digits, including Bronson Moton with 12.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Marshall helps plug up the lane with 32 blocks on the season and is 40th in the nation.
Scouting UC-Colorado Springs Men UC-Colorado Springs (17-2, 11-2 RMAC) not only enters the weekend as one of the top teams in the conference, they are currently ninth in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches poll and 12th in the latest D2SIDA poll. And for good reason. The Mountain Lions are seventh in the nation by scoring 88.9 points per game. They also are 12th in the nation in scoring 17 more points than their opponents.
Derrick White leads the conference and is third in the nation with 25.6 points per game. He also leads the team and is 102nd in the nation with 7.5 rebounds per game. White can pass the rock with the best of them as he is 48th in the nation with four assists per game and a 2.39 assist/turnover ratio.
Next Up The Cowgirls and Cowboys come back home for their last four home games of the season next weekend against Adams State (Friday, Feb. 6) and Fort Lewis (Saturday, Feb. 6).
