GUNNISON, Colo. – Two games weren't enough for Western Colorado Men's Basketball this weekend – instead the Mountaineers opted for three. Western will play a game a day this weekend, starting on Friday night.
First up, Western hosts Colorado School of Mines Friday at 7:30 p.m. Next the Mountaineers welcome University of Colorado Colorado Springs to Paul Wright Gym for a 7:00 p.m. tip. Western will close out the weekend on the road against University of Denver on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. in an exhibition game.
For the home games, all fans are also encouraged to wear ugly sweaters. There will be a contest for the ugliest sweater on both nights.
After an extensive preseason schedule, Western (3-4, 0-1 RMAC) continues the long Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference season.
So far this season, Western's story has been one of offense. Western is averaging 83.4 points per game, the fourth highest in the RMAC. When the Mountaineers are on they are on. In their three wins this season, Western has shot 48.1%, 51.3%, and 53.4% respectively.
Fueling this success has been Western's accuracy behind the arc. In all of their wins this season, Western has shot no less than 40% from three-point.
Individually,
Brady Subart is the top three-point shooter in the RMAC at 45.5%.
In general offensive production,
Quincy Harding leads Western with 21.3 points per game – the second best tally in the conference.
Against Colorado School of Mines (4-3, 1-0 RMAC) Western finds a team on a three game win streak. Western leads the all-time series with Colorado Mines (99-75). The Mountaineers knocked off the Orediggers 79-76 last season.
Defensively minded, the Orediggers are holding teams to 67.3 points per game this season while managing a 7.4 point margin.
Mines has two aggressive shot blockers in Brendan Sullivan and Michael Glen.
Saturday, Western will host UCCS (2-4, 0-1 RMAC). In their most recent action, UCCS went down to Mines 82-87.
In the all-time series, Western and UCCS are knotted at 17-17. Saturday proves the opportunity for one team to inch ahead.
The Mountain Lions are led by Elijah Ross with 15 points per game while Padiet Wang is dangerous on defense with 19 steals on the season.
When Western heads to University of Denver on Sunday they face a historic opponent. As an original member of the RMAC, Western has played DU 52 times trailing 11-41.
By the time the Mountaineers meet up with the Pioneers they will have had two common opponents in Air Force and Utah Valley University. DU dropped their game against UVU 75-98 while the Mountaineers fell by the same 23 point margin 59-82.
DU's leading scorer, Ronnie Harrell Jr. averages 15.5 points per game and is no stranger to the three-ball, shooting 42.5% on the season.
For those who cannot make it to Paul Wright Gym, both games will be broadcast live on Stretch Internet and live stats will be available. Both are available in the story links above.
