Cowboys defense prevails against Regis and Colorado Christian

Las Vegas, NM --- The New Mexico Highlands Cowboys clamped down defensively as they beat Regis 85-76 and Colorado Christian 102-81 at the Wilson Complex.  
 
AGAINST REGIS: The Cowboys started out hot as they jumped to an early 6-point lead within the first 2 minutes of the game. However, the Rangers would settle in defensively as they would take the lead and extend it to as much as 7 points with 1:18 left in the first half.
 
The Cowboys would gain a little bit of momentum as Sammy Barnes-Thompkins would connect on a lay-up and two free-throws before Jalen Munn would knock down a three as time expired, but the Rangers would go in to half with a 34-33 lead over the Cowboys.  
 
Regis would hold the Cowboys to 32.4% shooting from the field in the first half and would cause 10 turnovers on the Cowboys.
 
The Rangers would turn the momentum around as they would jump on the Cowboys by taking a 12-point lead with just over 12 minutes to play in the game. The Rangers would maintain this lead until the 7 minute mark before the Cowboys would start to inch back in to the game.
 
With back-to-back three pointers missed and a turnover, the Rangers would see their lead cut to 1 point with 5:45 remaining but, would hold on to a 5 point advantage after Raquan Mitchell got hit with a technical foul followed by a three pointer from Regis Will Cranston-Lown.
 
With the score 76-71 and 3:52 remaining in the game, the Cowboys would use a 14-0 run to finish out the game and win 85-76.
 
The Cowboys would shoot 60.9% from the field in the second half, which included 14-23 from the field and 5-12 from three point territory. Sammy Barnes-Thompkins would lead all scorers with 27 points, 2 assists, 2 steals and a block and would connect on 9 of 10 free throws. Raquan Mitchell would finish with 21 points, all of which came in the second half, and also grabbed 7 rebounds. Desmond Carpenter filled in with 13 points and also grabbed 7 rebounds for the Cowboys and DJ Bustos added 9 points while connecting on three 3's.
 
 
 
AGAINST COLORADO CHRISTIAN: The Cowboys jumped on the Cougars from the get go as they forced 13 turnovers in the first half. This allowed the Cowboys to go on an early 30-3 run, to take a 35-9 lead with 8 minutes remaining in the first half.
 
The Cougars would fight their way back as the Cowboys would hold a 46-30 lead at the break. The Cowboys shot 16-37 from the field while connecting on seven 3's.
 
The Cowboys never took their foot off the gas as they maintained their 20 point lead throughout the second half to beat Colorado Christian 102-81.
 
Raquan Mitchell led the Cowboys with 24 points, 6 assists, 3 steals and 1 rebound while Sammy Barnes-Thompkins added 16 points and 2 steals. Desmond Carpenter remained sharp as he tallied 13 points while David Hall cleaned up the glass by grabbing 8 rebounds, which included 6 offensive. Patrick Boloz and Darrius Harrison both added 10 points and 5 rebounds apiece and Jalen Munn added 9 points for the Cowboys.
 
With these two wins, the Cowboys have won 4 straight conference games and are now tied with Colorado School of Mines and Black Hills State for second place in RMAC standings at 5-2 in conference play. Dixie State leads the conference with a 6-1 conference record.
 
The Cowboys will be back in action next weekend as they will travel to Colorado to take on Colorado Mesa on January 10^th and Western State on January 11^th.
 
GO COWBOYS!!