GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. --- The Western Colorado men's basketball team held a halftime lead, but a big run early in the second half gave Colorado Mesa control as the Mountaineers fell 71-49 Friday night at Brownson Arena.
 
The Mountaineers (5-6 overall, 2-3 RMAC) led 28-24 at halftime on the Mavericks (8-3, 4-1) thanks to holding CMU to 35.7 percent shooting from the field – including 1-for-8 from 3-point range.
 
But the Mavs got hot in the second half and went on a 15-0 run early in the final 20 minutes to turn a 30-28 deficit into a 43-30 lead before Connor Shaw hit a 3-pointer for WCU at the 12:23 mark (the Mountaineers' first field goal) to end the streak.
 
The lead eventually grew to 18 points at 53-35 at the 7:47 mark in the second half and the Mountaineers wouldn't get closer than 12 the rest of the contest.
 
Cole Sienknecht led WCU with 15 points to go along with three assists while James Willis had 11 points and three steals and Monroe Porter added eight points, seven rebounds and six assists.


WCU is off for a bit before hitting the road to take on Black Hills State on Jan. 3.