GUNNISON, Colo. --- The last time the sixth-ranked Colorado Mesa men's basketball tasted defeat heading into Saturday night was 11 months ago at the hands of Western Colorado at Paul Wright Gym - an 87-76 Mountaineer victory Feb. 28, 2020. 

Fourteen victories later, the Mavericks returned to the scene of that loss - and Western promptly ended Division II's longest winning streak with a 78-72 victory Saturday at Paul Wright Gym.

It was a contest the Mountaineers (4-6 overall, 4-5 RMAC) led over the final 22 minutes, 37 seconds - but never had an advantage of more than nine points.

The Mountaineers led 66-63 late in the second half before back-to-back 3-pointers by Cole Sienknecht pushed the lead to 72-63 with 1:59 remaining.

The Mavs (11-1, 11-1) answered with a 7-0 run capped by a bucket from Christopher Speller in the paint with 33 seconds remaining to cut the Western lead to 72-70. 

Colorado Mesa was forced to foul and Sienknecht drained two free throws with 24 seconds remaining to make it a four-point Western lead. The Mavs split a pair of free throws on its next possession with 19 seconds left to make it a 74-71 Mountaineer lead. Again Sienknecht was fouled and again the junior drained both to make it 76-71. CMU was again fouled and headed to the line, making one of two to make it 76-72 with nine seconds left.

That's when the Mountaineers beat the Mavs' press and freshman Elijah Davidson put the exclamation point on the game with a two-hand dunk to make the final 78-72.

In the first half, the Mountaineers took the lead for what turned out to be for good at 36-35 on a Matthew Ragsdale 3-pointer with 2:37 left until half. Western received a boost heading into the half thanks to a half-court 3-pointer from Jonathan McCloud at the buzzer to make it 42-38 Mountaineers after the opening 20 minutes.

Ragsdale led the Mountaineers with 24 points, going 4-for-9 from 3-point range, to go along with six rebounds. Sienknecht finished with 17 points, Avery Rembao had 11 points and four rebounds while Grant Wilkinson again filled the stat sheet with 10 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals.

As a team, Western shot 45.2 percent from the field - including 12-for-24 from 3-point range while going 10-for-12 from the free throw line. A big key was Western only committed nine turnovers while the Mavs committed 16.

Speller led CMU with 19 points while Reece Johnson had 16.

The victory is the first over a ranked opponent for Western since defeating No. 4 West Texas A&M 77-72 on Nov. 9, 2018, at Paul Wright Gym.

The Mountaineers return to action Thursday on the road against UCCS.