GUNNISON – Western State Colorado University men's basketball team will begin a three-game home stand to close out the 2016-17 season Saturday against South Dakota School of Mines at 7 p.m.
 
The Mountaineers (5-18, 4-15 RMAC) were eliminated from playoff contention last weekend, but can just up to as high as 10^th in the conference with three wins. The team also will look to help Ben Beauchamp secure the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular season scoring title. Beauchamp is currently tied for second in the conference with 19.1 point per game (20.3 ppg in conference) and trails Gokul Natesan of Colorado Mines by just a tenth of a point per game. Beauchamp had a career-high 35 points last three weeks ago while on the road against S.D. Mines. A repeat performance would all-but secure the junior as the 2017 RMAC scoring leader.
 
Also for Western, Brady Subart (11.3 ppg) is eighth in the conference with 2.4 3-pointers per game. He is joined by Will Duggan on the conference leaders list, with Duggan averaging four assists per game, tied for fifth in the conference.
 
Another key for Western to watch is season free throw percentage. Collin Smith is in the running to have the greatest free throw percentage season in Mountain history. Smith trails Kenny Clay's record set in 1997 by two-thousandths of a percentage.
 
Saturday night is also Pink Night for the Mountaineers as they participate in a Play4Kay event. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to support the Mountaineers as they help raise awareness and money for cancer research.
 
During the final stages of her battle with cancer, Olympic and Naismith Hall of Fame Coach, Kay Yow, had a vision to unite coaches, players, and the women's basketball community to do something for the greater good that would far exceed wins and losses.
 
Because of financial support from PLAY4KAY events across the country, the Kay Yow Cancer Fund has awarded over $5.28 million for scientific research and projects assisting the underserved in ALL women's cancers.
 
During warmups, both the Western men and women will be warming up in special pink t-shirts. These shirts will then be up for silent auction during both games on Saturday with proceeds going to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
 
The women's basketball team is also selling pink Mountaineer knit hats all week, leading up to Saturday's games. To purchase a hat or donate, please contact Assistant Women's Basketball Coach Stephanie Gehlhausen (970-943-2423, sgehlhausen@western.edu). With the purchase of a knit hat, you will also receive free admission to the game and a free bag of popcorn. Just bring the hat to the game.