Las Vegas, New Mexico - The New Mexico Highlands men's basketball team is in Salt Lake City to kick off 2024 on Friday against Westminster. On Saturday the Cowboys play at nationally ranked Colorado Mesa. Friday's game tips-off at 7:00 pm while Saturday's game is scheduled for a 7:30 pm start.
Westminster is 4-7 overall and winless in the RMAC at 0-5. Junior Chase Potter leads the Griffins in scoring at 13.1 points per outing. Senior Trey Wood is the team's leading rebounder at 5.3 per game. As a team, Westminster averages 68.4 points per game while allowing 76.3 points. Friday's game is the 11th all-time meeting between the two schools with Westminster holding a 6-4 lead in the series history.
Colorado Mesa, ranked 14th in the most recent NABC Division II poll, is 9-2 overall and 4-0 in conference games. Junior Trevor Baskin leads the Mavericks at 16.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. The Mavericks average 84.6 points per game while allowing 74.5. Saturday's game marks the 77th all-time meeting between these longtime foes with Colorado Mesa holding a 56-20 lead in the previous games. Colorado Mesa hosts CSU-Pueblo on Friday evening.
The Cowboys last played December 16th when they defeated South Dakota Mines 66-55 in Las Vegas. They enter play this weekend with a 6-5 overall record and a 3-3 mark in RMAC action.
AC Curry and
Kyrie Thomas lead the Cowboys in scoring at 10.3 and 10.2 points per game respectively.
Ezichi Kalu leads the RMAC in rebounding at 9.1 per game. Kalu is also third in the conference with 1.3 blocks per game. As a team, NMHU is second in the conference in field goal defense at .412.
After this weekend's games, the Cowboys return to Las Vegas to host MSU-Denver and Colorado Mines.
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