Cowboys wear down Mavs, pull away for 94-82 win

LAS VEGAS, N.M. --- The New Mexico Highlands men's basketball team's press and endurance paid off in the final 10 minutes as the Cowboys turned a two-point deficit into a 12-point, 94-82 victory over Colorado Mesa Friday night in a matchup of top-10 regional teams at Wilson Complex.
 
NMHU (11-3 overall, 6-2 RMAC) – ranked No. 9 in the latest D2SIDA South Central Regional Poll - trailed the Mavericks (10-4, 5-3 RMAC) – ranked No. 8 in the region – 69-67 with 10:15 remaining before a 3-pointer by Raquan Mitchell started a 12-0 run for the Cowboys capped by a Gerad Davis putback at the 8:06 mark to give NMHU a 78-69 lead.
 
The Cowboys wouldn't trail again.
 
CMU didn't go away, however, as the Mavs pulled to within three at 78-75, but Mitchell had an answer with one of his seven 3-pointers at the 3:46 mark to increase the lead to six.
 
NMHU capped their big second half as Jordan Jones stole the ball in the final minute and threw down a high-flying, windmill dunk to give the Cowboys a 15-point lead at 94-79 before a Mavs 3-pointer on their final possession made the final margin of victory for NMHU by 12.
 
Mitchell had a big game for the Cowboys with 34 points, seven rebounds, five steals, two assists and a block – including going 7-for-14 from 3-point range. Davis finished with 20 points, nine rebounds, two steals and two assists while Jordan Jones had 19 points, four rebounds and two steals.
 
The Cowboys forced 22 turnovers while committing 12, helping them outscore the Mavs 27-17 on points off turnovers. NMHU shot 47.8 percent from the field, including 40.6 percent (13-for-32) from 3-point range. The Mavs shot 48.5 percent from the field, including 41.7 percent from 3-point range (10-for-24) – though they were 2-for-11 from beyond the arc in the second half.
 
NMHU returns to action 7 p.m. Saturday as the Cowboys host Western State Colorado.