GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. --- The Western Colorado men's basketball team looked in danger for the second day in a row of dropping a contest it led the majority of the time as its nine-point lead with 2:29 remaining was erased by Missouri Western State in the blink of an eye.

However, junior Jackson Ehrlin - already having a career game - came up clutch for the Mountaineers.

The 6-foot-9 Ehrlin scored after a nice drive and dish by Connor Shaw with 23 seconds remaining and then blocked a go-ahead 3-point attempt in the closing seconds by the Griffon's to help secure an 86-82 win Saturday afternoon at Brownson Arena on the final day of the Holiday Inn - Airport Thanksgiving Classic.

Ehrlin finished the game with a career-high 30 points to go along with 10 rebounds, two blocks and two assists to propel WCU (3-3) to victory on its final game before opening RMAC play next week.

The Mountaineers took the lead for what appeared may be for good with 9:36 left in the first half when Cole Sienknecht drained a 3-pointer to make it 17-16 over MWSU (3-5), a team that lost to Colorado Mesa in overtime the night before.

The WCU advantage grew to as much as 13 points in the second half and was 12 at 79-67 after an Ehrlin bucket in the paint late in the second half.

But the Griffons went on a 15-3 run - tying the game 82-82 on a Tyrell Carroll layup with 44 seconds left in the contest.

After a MWSU timeout, the Mountaineers got the ball in to Ehrlin - but he was double teamed and he kicked it out to Shaw near the top of the key. Shaw drove to the basket, pulling in Ehrlin's defender, and hit the WCU forward with a great pass that Ehrlin laid in to make it 84-82.
 

MBB | WHO ELSE?! Ehrlin scores on a nice dish from Shaw to give the Mountaineers the lead! #FearTheNeers pic.twitter.com/kAjrMthcgn

— Western Colorado Mountaineers (@WCUMountaineers) November 30, 2019

Following a WCU timeout, the Griffons appeared to get a look - but Ehrlin used his 6-9 frame to get just a piece of the go-ahead 3-point attempt. Shaw grabbed the rebound and passed it to Sienknecht who was fouled. The sophomore drained both with four seconds left to make it a two-possession game at 86-82 as the Mountaineers hung on for the victory.
 

MBB | EHRLIN NOW WITH THE BLOCK! He gets a hand on the go-ahead 3-point attempt. #FearTheNeers pic.twitter.com/VFMvg5qv1q

— Western Colorado Mountaineers (@WCUMountaineers) November 30, 2019

To go along with Ehrlin's 30 points, Sienknecht had a strong all-around game as well with 20 points, eight rebounds and a team-high five assists while Josh Tomasi had 11 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a block. As a team, the Mountaineers shot 49.2 percent from the field while holding the Griffons to 39.1 percent.

WCU opens RMAC play Friday as it travels to take on Colorado School of Mines before facing UCCS on Saturday.