GUNNISON, Colo. --- The New Mexico Highlands men's basketball team held off Western Colorado for its third win in a row with a 75-73 victory Saturday night at Paul Wright Gym.
The Cowboys (9-11, 4-10) trailed for only 24 seconds in the contest, but WCU (5-17, 4-12) made a late push to steal the contest.
NMHU led by eight with a minute left before the Mountaineers cut it to two points at 72-70 with 23 seconds remaining.
Marcus Brown drained a pair of free throws with 14 seconds left to increase the lead back to 74-70. After a Western three-point play made it a one-point game with three seconds left, Brown hit another free throw and WCU wouldn't find an answer as the Cowboys held on for the win.
Sammy Barnes-Thompkins led NMHU with 25 points - going 10-for-20 from the field. Brown had 17 points,
Andre Adams had 11 points and 12 rebounds and
Desmond Carpenter had 10 points.
The Cowboys return to action 7 p.m. Tuesday as they host CSU Pueblo at Wilson Complex.
