GUNNISON – Western State Colorado University men's basketball team loss to MSU-Denver Friday evening, 87-80, in a close Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matchup. Western returns to action tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. against the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs.

The game was a close one through the first half, with eight lead changes and six score ties. The Roadrunners closed the half with the lead, 42-36. Ben Beauchamp was four of five from beyond the arc in the first half, while MSU-Denver guard Tony Dobbinson put up a dozen on six shots from the floor.

The Mountaineers were never able to recover the lead, coming as close as three point in the second half. The Roadrunners finished with four players with more than 15 points, while the Mountaineers had three.

For Western, Beauchamp finished the game six of nine from deep for 18 points. Danny Hopkins finished with 17 points and five rebounds, along with four assists. Robert Romero was the last of the trio with 15 points and five boards.

Also for Western, C.J. Schutt had a dozen points, while Will Duggan had a game-high six assists.

The Mountaineers held the Roadrunners to only 14 percent from beyond the arc, while shooting 52 percent from deep as a team. Western also dished out more than double the amount of assists of their opponents, finishing with 19 compared to just eight.