LAS VEGAS, N.M. – It was a must win game for Western State Colorado University men's basketball Tuesday night against New Mexico Highlands University. Both teams entered the week tied for the final conference tournament spot with just two games left in the regular season.
 
Western (12-15, 10-11 RMAC) catapulted themselves ahead of the Cowboys (14-13, 9-12 RMAC) in the conference standings with a 100-89 victory.
 
The win puts the Mountaineers in sole possession of the eighth and final conference tournament spot with one game to play. The final game of the regular season for Western will come on the road against Colorado State University – Pueblo Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.
 
Saturday's game could become a play-in game if CSU-Pueblo defeats Colorado Mesa University on Friday night and NMHU loses to CMU on Saturday. Two wins on the weekend for CSU-Pueblo would move them into a tie with Western, but the Thunderwolves would hold the tie-breaker and take the eighth seed.
 
On Tuesday, the Mountaineers took their first lead of the game at the 14:11 mark of the first half. Western never relinquished the lead, using superior shooting to earn the win.
 
Western shot a season high 71.4 percent (35-of-49) from the field as a team. The Mountaineers also shot a season high 55.6 percent (10-of-18) from beyond the three-point line, making 10 or more three-pointers for the 14^th time this season.
 
Leading the Western scoring onslaught was senior Ben Beauchamp and his 31 points. It's the third time this season that Beauchamp has scored 30 or more points.
 
Scoring 22 points and going a perfect 7-for-7 from the field was teammate Brady Subart. The junior guard also added a team-high seven assists.
 
Collin Smith and Quincy Harding also scored in double figures for the Mountaineers. Smith added 18 points and Harding scored 10.
 
Western's Monroe Porter led all players with 10 rebounds. It's the sixth time Porter has earned double digit rebounds this season.
 
It's only the third time in seven seasons and first time in five seasons that Western has recorded 10 or more conference victories.
 
Western ends the season Saturday night in Pueblo at 7:30 p.m. against CSU-Pueblo.