Silver City, N.M.- Friday night Western New Mexico University Basketball team squared up against Regis University but fell short 62-54. Shooting was in favor of Regis as they shot almost 40% throughout the whole game. They were able to connect with 40.8% (20-49) in field goals and 39.1% (9-23) in 3-pointers.
The first half was a back and forth battle between the two teams in the first half. Emery Range was able to get to the free throw line and put Western (0-15, 0-10 RMAC) on the board 2-0 and on the next possession Regis (7-9, 5-5 RMAC) drilled a three pointer to take the lead 3-2.
With Regis in the lead 9-7, Mustangs Jordan Enriquez would come off the bench and nail a shot from beyond the arc making the score 10-9. Mustangs lead would not last long as Rangers bounced back and answered with their own three to take the lead back 12-10.
With 9:18 in the half and Regis with the lead 15-13, Brandon Williams connected on a three pointer for WNMU and regain the lead 16-15. A layup in the paint by Regis snatched the lead back to make the score 17-15. Regis would stretch the lead to 21-16 with 4:07 left in the half.
Adam Kesler for the Mustangs knocked down a three with seconds left in the half but Regis would maintain their lead going in to halftime 27-23.
Shooting was a problem for the Western in the first half as the shot 23.3% (7-30) in field goals and 23.1% (3-13) in the 3-point field goals. However, WNMU was able to score ten points off nine Regis turnovers.
Rangers shot 41.7% (10-24) in field goals and 40% (4-10) in the three pointers.
Early in the second half, Mustangs cut the lead to two, 30-28, thanks to another Kesler 3-pointer. Then another three from Range put Western to within one, 32-31.
Five minutes into the half, WNMU captured the lead after a Willie McCray would drill in a three pointer and make the score 36-35. The lead would not last long when Regis connected on their own three to take the lead back 38-36.
Rangers caught momentum from then on and go on a 12-2 run.
With 6:15 left, Mustangs climbed their way back to within two as Brandon Tanter came through with a three pointer that made the scrore 48-46. This would be as close as Western would be able to get and fall to Regis 62-54.
Overall WNMU hit 28.8% (15-52) in field goals and 29.2% (7-24) in three pointers.
Leading in scoring for Western was McCray with 12 and Kesler with 10 while Carter Aby came away with 10 rebounds.
The Mustangs hope to earn their first win of the season as the take on Chardon State University at home with the game beginning at 7:30 p.m.
