LAKEWOOD, Colo. --- The New Mexico Highlands men's basketball team jumped out to a 14-2 lead on Colorado Christian and trailed only for 10 seconds in the contest, but still had to hold off a pesky Cougars squad late in an 86-80 victory Saturday night at the CCU Event Center.
NMHU (10-3 overall, 5-2 RMAC) saw its lead trimmed to 74-71 with 3:21 after a Cougar (2-11, 0-7) bucket before
Desmond Carpenter answered for the Cowboys with a basket in the paint on NMHU's next possession to push the lead to five points.
The lead was at 78-73 with 1:45 remaining before a 5-0 run over the next minute – capped by a
Nnamdi Okoro block and a
Gerad Davis steal that led to a
Jordan Jones bucket with 40 seconds remaining to make it 83-73 as the Cowboys held on the rest of the way.
The Cowboys shot a scorching 57.9 percent from the field (33-for-57), including going 7-for-17 from 3-point range – which helped them overcome a 13-for-23 performance at the free throw line and being outrebounded 47-26. NMHU also force 19 turnovers compared to committing 11 and outscored the Cougars on points off turnovers 27-5.
Davis led the Cowboys with 24 points to go along with five rebounds, four steals and two assists.
Nnamdi Okoro had 17 points (on 7-for-8 shooting) to go along with six rebounds and three blocks,
Jordan Jones had 15 points while
Raquan Mitchell had 10 points.
Jeremiah Hanson led CCU with 21 points to go along with seven rebounds.
The Cowboys return home to take on Colorado Mesa 7 p.m. Friday at Wilson Complex.
