LAS VEGAS, N.M. --- Nearly 10 minutes into Friday night's contest with South Dakota Mines, the New Mexico Highlands basketball team found itself down 19-9 as the Cowboys struggled to get anything going.
As NMHU has shown all season, however, that can turn around in a hurry – and that was the case Friday.
The Cowboys went on a 21-4 run to take a seven-point lead, led 44-41 at the half and pulled away in the final four minutes in the second half for a 95-82 victory over the Hardrockers at Wilson Complex.
The victory kept NMHU (16-6 overall, 11-5 RMAC) tied for third place in the RMAC with Black Hills State, who will be coming to Las Vegas for a matchup with the Cowboys 7 p.m. Saturday. NMHU is a game back of second-place Regis and a game ahead of a trio of teams tied for fifth place.
NMHU never relinquished the lead in the second half on Friday, but didn't lead by double figures until a pair of free throws by
Raquan Mitchell with 3:56 remaining made it 86-76 and pulled away for the 13-point victory.
A big key for the Cowboys was turnover margin and points off turnovers as NMHU forced 18 turnovers that turned into 26 points while committing just three turnovers – leading to four Hardrocker points. It helped NMHU overcome South Dakota Mines shooting 62.2 percent from the field and going 7-for-11 from 3-point range – including the Hardrockers shooting 77.3 percent (17-for-22) in the first half. NMHU shot 49.3 percent, including going 12-for-27 from 3-point range.
Five players scored in double figures for the Cowboys – and accounted for all of NMHU's points.
Gerad Davis led NMHU with 28 points to go along with four rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks. Mitchell had 24 points,
Adrian LaFleur had 16 points off the bench to go along with three steals,
Jordan Jones had 15 points and
Nnamdi Okoro had 12 points and eight rebounds (six offensive boards).
It's still School Spirit Weekend for the Cowboys as if you wear NMHU gear to the game Saturday against Black Hills State, you get in the game for free. You can use that money for a good cause as the Highlands Sweethearts are raising money with a Go Gold for Childhood Cancer fundraiser – raising money for the Carrie Tingley Hospital in Albuquerque. They will be selling 50/50 raffle tickets Saturday night with all proceeds going to the charity.
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