LAS VEGAS, N.M. --- The New Mexico Highlands men's basketball team came out hot, built a large first-half lead and didn't relinquish it as the Cowboys defeated MSU Denver 103-69 Friday night at Wilson Complex.
NMHU (17-9, 12-8) jumped out to a 31-9 advantage within the first 10 minutes of the contest – capped by a 15-0 run that saw 3-pointers from
Adrian LaFleur and
DJ Bustos and dunks from
Raquan Mitchell and
Patrik Boloz.
The Cowboys dropped another 31 points over the final 10 minutes capped by another Bustos 3-pointer as NMHU took a 62-32 lead into the half on the Roadrunners (10-14, 8-12).
MSU Denver got as close as 20 points at 75-55 in the second half, but the Cowboys wouldn't let it get any lower as they came away with the 34-point victory – in large part thanks to shooting 58.6 percent from the field, including 13-for-24 from 3-point range.
Bustos was on fire from 3-point range for the Cowboys, connecting on his first seven 3-pointers before missing his final shot to finish with 21 points.
Gerad Davis had 23 points to go along with three rebounds while Mitchell had 23 points, five assists, three steals and three rebounds. Boloz came off the bench and added 11 points, five rebounds and two blocks.
It was also one of the Cowboys' top defensive efforts as of late, holding MSU Denver to 43.6 percent shooting from the field, including 3-for-19 from 3-point range.
NMHU honors its five seniors right after the end of the Cowgirls' game Saturday with an estimated start time between 6:30-6:45 p.m. The Cowboys then take on Chadron State at 7 p.m.
