GUNNISON, Colo. – James Willis had a career night, but the Mountaineers of Western Colorado University men's basketball fell to the Regis Rangers in Gunnison. Regis defeated the Mountaineers 86-77 on Saturday night in Paul Wright Gym.
 
Western (3-18, 0-15 RMAC) got out to an early lead against Regis (14-6, 11-3 RMAC). Following a three-pointer from Cole Sienknecht, the Mountaineers went ahead of the Rangers 20-9 at the 11:57 mark of the first half.
 
Western was able to maintain their lead until Regis tied the game at 31 points with four minutes left before halftime.
 
Regis took the lead on their following possession; a lead the Rangers wouldn't relinquish for the rest of the game.
 
At halftime, the Mountaineers trailed by eight points, 42-36.
 
James Willis paced Western in the first half, scoring 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field. Willis was 3-of-3 from beyond the arc, helping the Mountaineers make seven three-point field goals in the first 20 minutes.
 
Willis would score 15 more points in the second half, making three more three-pointers. The redshirt junior scored a game and career-high 28 points, making 6-of-8 three-point attempts.
 
As a team, Western shot 43.8 percent from beyond the arc, making 14-of-32 attempts.
 
Brady Subart, Jackson Ehrlin and Sienknecht also scored in double figures for the Mountaineers. Subart scored 16 points and five assists, while Ehrlin scored 12 points and Sienknecht added 10.
 
Junior Monroe Porter filled the stat sheet with eight points, nine rebounds, seven assists and one block.
 
Western starts a four-game road trip next weekend, starting at Dixie State University on Friday night in St. George, Utah.