LAKEWOOD, Colo. –The Cowboys fought back from a 14-point first half deficit to take the lead in the second half, but the Cougars forced overtime, built a double-digit lead and held on for the win as New Mexico Highlands (5-20, 5-16 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) fell to Colorado Christian (14-13, 11-10 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) 110-106 in overtime Saturday night (Feb. 21).
The Cowboys trailed 68-59 before going on a 16-6 run to take their first lead since the opening minute of the contest. Junior
Erick Vega hit a jumper and junior
Jonathon Mines got the hoop and the harm to cut the deficit to four. The Cougars hit a pair of free throws aorund a Cowboys jumper. Sophomore
Ricky Norris, who narrowly missed the double-double with a career-best 23 points and nine rebounds, added a layup to bring Highlands within 72-68. Norris made a layup and a fastbreak hoop to tie the game at 72. The home team made a pair of free throws, but a Norris triple gave the Cowboys their first lead since 2-0. Neither team led by more than two the rest of the way as the game went to the extra period tied at 88.
The Cowboys trailed by 10 in the extra session, but would not go away. Freshman
Joe Anaya hit a pair from the line and after a steal, senior
Luis Rodriguez-Quintana popped a triple. The Cougars made another pair from the line, but Rodriguez-Quintana hit another triple. Colorado Christian hit another pair, but Rodriguez-Quintana made a pair of layups to keep the final margin at four points.
Six players reached double-digits for the Cowboys, led by Mines' 24. Norris added 23 while junior
Amal Wilson had 10. Junior
Kaylen Shane, sophomore
Justin Bustos and Rodriguez-Quintana had 11.
After surrendering the first points of the game, Colorado Christian went on a 14-2 run to build a double-digit lead in the first half. Tyler Shields hit a triple and then a pair of free throws. Wilson made a layup for the Cowboys, but Wayne McCullough made a jumper. Both teams went near two minutes without scoring before Andrew Squiers grabbed a steal and made a fastbreak layup. Shields hit a three and McCullough made a pair from the line to push the lead to 14-4 with 14:50 left in the first half.
In the overtime, leading by five, Shields made a layup and Michael Brown hit a three to increase the lead to 102-92.
Five reached double digits for Colorado Christian, led by Brown's 26. McCullough added 22 while Shields came off the bench for 20. Despite Highlands with a 33-25 rebounding edge, and 9-5 on the offensive glass, the Cougars used a 12-2 edge in second chance points.
The Cowboys close out the season next weekend with a trip to Silver City, New Mexico, to battle Western New Mexico. Game time is set for 4 p.m.
