LAKEWOOD, Colo. – Despite shooting over 46 percent and connecting on nine three-pointers, it wasn’t enough for the Western New Mexico University men’s basketball team as they fell to Colorado Christian University, 80-69, in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Friday evening.
WNMU (2-22, 2-18 RMAC) grabbed an early two-point lead at 9-7 on a three-pointer by Gavin Wood (Florence, AZ/Florence ) two minutes in. The lead stretched to four on the next trip down on a dunk by Terrez Scott (Santa Clarita, CA/Valencia).
The teams would trade leads over the next several minutes when the Mustangs went back up by three on a pair of foul shots by Brandon Williams (Long Beach, CA/Los Angeles Prep) for the 15-12 lead near the midway point of the half.
Tyler Shea (Rancho Cucamunga, CA/Alta Loma) would give WNMU their final lead of the night at the 8:25 mark with a layup for the 17-15 lead before CCU (13-13, 10-10 RMAC) would hold the lead the rest of the half to take a 36-32 lead into the locker room.
An 8-0 run to start the half for CCU turned out to be too much to overcome for WNMU. The Mustangs fought back to within seven on a three by Brandon Tanter (Long Beach, CA/Los Angeles Prep) a few minutes in and a few minutes later on a pair of foul shots by Marcos Castrillo (San Francisco, CA/Pinole Valley) to once again get back to within seven.
That would be as close as the Mustangs would get down the stretch with the Cougars taking the victory.
Scott led WNMU and all-scorers going for 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting that included a 4-for-5 effort from three. He also added three assists and three steals. Tanter tallied 15 points and Gavin Wood (Florence, AZ/Florence ) added 13 points. Tyler Shields led four CCU players in double-figures in scoring with 18 points. He added a double-double with 10 rebounds.
WNMU held the edge on three-pointers (9-7), but CCU held a healthy 25-12 advantage at the free throw line. Each team made 24 field goals, as CCU held the slighter advantage on percentage making 49 percent (24-49), to a 24-52 night for WNMU.
WNMU will play at No. 14 Colorado School of Mines Saturday night at 7 p.m. The Orediggers blasted New Mexico Highlands, 109-63, earlier tonight.
