GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Despite leading for nearly half of the game, Western State Colorado University men's basketball team fell to Montana State University Billings, 77-86, in the final game of the 2016 Holiday Inn and Suites – Airport Thanksgiving Classic in Grand Junction, Colorado Saturday evening. 
 
Ben Beauchamp and Collin Smith came together to lead the Mountaineers, leading all scorers with 17 points apiece. The pair had near identical numbers shooting, as they both went five of 12 from the floor and two of six from deep. The only difference in shooting came from the foul line, as Beauchamp was a perfect five-for-five from the line and Smith made five of his six foul shots.
 
Also for Western, Monroe Porter had 10 points, including a buzzer-beater trey to end the game. He was joined by point guards Will Duggan and James Willis, who both had nine points.
 
Defensively, Branden Cosby-Lee owned the boards, pulling down 11 total rebounds. Of the 11 boards, six were offensive rebounds. Cosby-Lee led all Mountaineers with 32 minutes of play.
 
Western shot well from deep and the foul line, both with season-high shooting percentages. The Mountaineers made nine of 19 deep shots for a 47 shooting percentage, while the team sank 22 of 26 foul shots for an 84 shooting percentage.
 
The Mountaineers look to rebound quickly, as they host Colorado Mesa University Tuesday evening at 7:30 p.m. for the conference opener.