LAS VEGAS, N.M. --- The New Mexico Highlands 2008-09 men's basketball team that still holds the NCAA basketball record for most wins improved from season to season will be honored during Saturday's 4 p.m. Cowboys game against South Dakota Mines at Wilson Complex.
The NMHU men's basketball team went 1-26 during the 2007-08 campaign before a year later going 20-8 - an 18.5 game improvement, a record across all NCAA men's divisions. The 2008-09 team won the RMAC West Division title, led by coach Joe Harge.
Roman Andrade - from Albuquerque - led the team in scoring at 20.6 points per game (second in the RMAC) to go along with a team-best 4.7 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals to go along with shooting 40.3 percent from 3-point range. Chris Dunn - from Hobbs - averaged 14.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per contest, Rashad Peterson - from Dallas, Texas - averaged 12.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.7 steals (leading the RMAC), Mindaugas Markevicious - from Lithuania - averaged 11.2 points and shot 41.2 percent from 3-point range and Jerard Moret - from Los Angeles - averaged 10.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest.
Also playing roles for the team was Ledreece Smith, David Omaghan, Ryan Gonzales, Derek Freeman, Curtis Cotton, Justin Montoya, Chris Newsome, Tre' Harge, Daniel Gutierrez, Eric Geyer, Kenny Lucero, Jarell Lake and Nick Richardson.
The team qualified for the RMAC Shootout (now the RMAC Tournament) and fell to Colorado Christian.
The Cowboys were dominant at home - going 11-3 compared to 8-5 on the road. NMHU led the RMAC in scoring at 82.2 points per game and blocks (4.17) while second in steals per game (9.0).
