GUNNISON, Colo. – Western Colorado University Men's Basketball couldn't have asked for a better start to the 2018-19 season. After defeating Division I Air Force Academy in an exhibition game, the Mountaineers opened the season at home against the 4^th-ranked West Texas A&M University Buffs on Friday night in Paul Wright Gym.
 
What ensued Friday night was Western Men's Basketball arrival as a team to be feared. The Mountaineers upset WTAMU 77-72 in front of a packed, raucous Paul Wright Gym crowd.
 
Western (1-0, 0-0 RMAC) came out and dominated the first 20 minutes against WTAMU (3-1, 0-0 LSC).
 
After falling behind 8-5 to start the game, Western went on a 21-6 run to take a 26-14 lead. At halftime, the Mountaineers had a 46-29 lead.
 
Western was deadly from beyond the arc in the first half, shooting 57.14 percent (8-of-14) from three-point range.
 
Defensively, the Mountaineers held the Buffs to just 35.9 percent (12-of-34) shooting from the field in the first half.
 
In the second half, West Texas A&M proved why they were a Final Four team just a year ago, getting back into the game by limiting Western's scoring opportunities while aggressively pushing the ball down the court.
 
The Buffs erased the Mountaineers' first half lead and by the 9:01 mark of the second half, West Texas A&M had a two-point lead, 63-61.
 
The two teams exchanged points and leads, and with 4:33 left to play the Buffs clung to a 70-69 lead.
 
 Western's Quincy Harding regained the lead for good, scoring on Western's next possession with 4:27 left to play.
 
Harding led all players with 20 points and dished out a game-high five assists.
 
Three other Mountaineers scored in double figures. Brady Subart added 15 points, while Jackson Ehrlin and Jaire Roberts each recorded 11.
 
Ryan Quaid led the Buffs with 17 points and 18 rebounds.
 
The Mountaineers will return to the court Saturday at 5 p.m. when they host the University of Texas – Permian Basin in Paul Wright Gym.