This game recap is presented by MAA Corporate Partner McDonald's
GUNNISON, Colo. - After being down by as many as 16 points in the second half, the Western State Colorado University men's basketball team got to the free-throw line and made Friday night's game against New Mexico Highlands University a two possession game with under three minutes to play. However, the Mountaineers' comeback was cut short and Western fell to the Cowboys 77-68 in the 2014-15 home opener.
The first half of play was tightly contested. Leads changed hands rapidly as neither team was able to gain much ground. It was until a 10-4 run by NMHU (1-5, 1-2 RMAC) gave the Cowboys some space, up 28-20 with 4:12 left in the first half. NMHU extended their lead to nine points with 1:39 left in the first stanza. However, Western (1-6, 0-3 RMAC) scored eight points in the final 1:39 to cut the Cowboy lead to just three points at the break.
NMHU used physical play in the second half, scoring 22 of their 44 second half points in the paint. The Cowboys made 17 other points from the charity stripe.
With 8:21 remaining in the game, NMHU propelled their lead to 16 points and the game was slipping away from the Mountaineers. However,
Mason Biddle (Sr., Riverside, California) and the rest of the Western offense went after the NMHU defense, forcing the issue and drawing fouls. Biddle made 9-of-11 free throws in the second half, and Western shot a total of 26 free throws in the second stanza.
Getting to the free throw line and making a few clutch three-pointers and field goals, Western cut the 16-point Cowboy lead to six points with 2:06 left to play. However, NMHU made their free throws to end the game and took a 77-68 victory.
In total, 75 free throws were shot in Friday night's game. Western made 29-of-41, while NMHU made 23-of-34.
Biddle led the Mountaineers with 19 points, 13 of which came from the free-throw line.
NMHU's Jonathan Mines led the game with 22 points, 10 of which came from the charity stripe.
Western will look to win their first conference game of the season Saturday night when they host Western New Mexico University at 7:30 p.m. in Paul Wright Gym.
