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This game recap is presented by MAA Corporate Partner Yellowbook USA

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LAS VEGAS, N.M. – After trailing by 10 at the half, the Western State Colorado University men's basketball team came within two possessions of New Mexico Highlands late in the contest before the Cowboys outscored the Mountaineers 12-5 in the final three minutes to record a 78-65 victory.
 
Trailing 66-55 with just over four minutes to play, a three-point play by Mason Biddle (Sr., Riverside, Calif.) and a layup from Devin Kastrup (Sr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) brought the Mountaineers within six at 66-60. However, Western (4-19, 3-16 RMAC) would not be able to pull any closer in the final minutes as NMHU (5-18, 5-14 RMAC) was a perfect 8-of-8 from the charity stripe to come away with the victory.
 
Biddle led the Mountaineers with 19 points and five assists while Kastrup totaled 17 points and six boards. Dominique Wright (Sr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) also notched double figures with 12 points.
 
Western opened up the game 6-0 with four points coming from Kastrup before the Cowboys answered with an 8-0 run in a span of 1:34 to take the lead.
 
The Mountaineers hung close with NMHU through a majority of the first period until the Cowboys pushed their advantage to 22-13 with 7:24 to play after four scoreless minutes for Western.
 
A three by Jonathon Mines gave the Cowboys their first double-digit lead at 25-15, eventually stretching it to as many as 13 after a triple by Ricky Norris.
 
The Mountaineers worked to trim away at their deficit in the early minutes of the second half. With NMHU holding a 43-30 lead, Wright connected on two three-pointers while Kastrup added five points to pull Western within four at 45-41 with 15:48 to play.
 
The Cowboys extended their lead back to double figures at 51-41 but a three-point play by Danny Hopkins and a Wright dunk quickly cut the NMHU lead in half.
 
Western was able to stay within striking distance through much of the period until Joe Anaya began a late Cowboy run to help NMHU escape with the win.
 
Mines led NMHU with 18 points while Kendrick Nichols chipped in 16 points. Charles George (11) and Kaylen Shane (10) also hit double figures for the Cowboys.
 
The Mountaineers close out the season with a three-game homestand beginning Saturday when they host Colorado Mesa at 7:30 p.m. at Paul Wright Gym.