GUNNISON, Colo.  Western Colorado men's basketball opens its home schedule Friday in the annual Comfort Inn Classic, taking on the University of Southwest before closing out the event Sunday against Washington Adventist University.

MOUNTAINEERS HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND | SEASON STATS

• Western will try to add a notch in the win column after dropping a pair to host and third-ranked (NABC Coaches) West Texas A&M University on November 12 and 14.
• Avery Rembao led the Mountaineer scoring in the season opener, reaching double digits (13 points in the 83-64 defeat. Rembao also added four rebounds in the contest.
• Elijah Davidson began the 2021-22 campaign with a double-double in that loss, scoring 10 points while pulling down a game-high 12 rebounds. He complemented that performance two days later with an 11-rebound outing, with 6 points, in an 86-71 loss.
• Rembao also reached double figures in that second game, scoring 10 points for the Mountaineers.
• Western will try to cure a Texas-turnover issue that arose in the two games against A&M. In the opener they turned the ball over 19 times with A&M turning those miscues into 29 points. And again in the second game they turned it over 19 times with A&M converting those for 16 points.
• In both matchups the Mountaineers outrebounded the Buffs, 42-41 in the opener, and 35-32 in the second game of the series.
• The weekend's games will be the first games against Southwest and Adventist.

UNIV. OF SOUTHWEST HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND | SEASON STATS

• The Mustangs are 2-4 as they arrive in Gunnison, averaging a tad over 78 points a game.
• Four players are averaging double figures for Southwest, led by Alvin Thompson's 16.5 PPG.
• Brandon Meadows is doing the work of the glass, leading the Mustangs with 7.8 rebounds per game.

WASHINGTON ADVENTIST HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND | SEASON STATS

• The Shock are 2-0 to begin their season, averaging 79.7 PPG in their pair of victories.
• Three players are going for double digits so far, paced by Therence Mayimba's 20-4 PPG.
• Mayimba is also the team's leading rebounder, coming down with 7.5 rebounds per outing.

COLORADO MESA HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND | SEASON STATS

• The Mavericks were ranked No. 4 nationally (NABC Coaches) in the preseason poll, but they've lost two of their opening five contests. However, both defeats were to ranked squads: at West Texas A&M in the season opener, and then to No. 19 Dallas Baptist University one week ago.
• Despite their three wins, Mesa's scoring average, 70.0 PPG, is slightly behind their opponents' 71.6 PPG.
• The Mavericks are getting the job done off the rim, though, ripping down 36.2 RPG while allowing opponents only 33.6 per game.
• Two Mesa players, Blaise Threatt and Mac Riniker, are averaging in double figures at the start of the season. Threatt leads the Mavs at 14.2 PPG while Riniker is close behind at 13.0 PPG.
• Jared Small is the top rebounder for Mesa, entering the weekend at 6.0 RPG.

COMFORT INN CLASSIC SCHEDULE

• Friday, Nov. 19
  • 2:30 p.m. – Colorado Mesa (home designee) vs. Washington Adventist
  • 5:30 p.m. – Western Colorado (home) vs. Univ. of the Southwest
• Saturday, Nov. 20
  • 5 p.m. – Colorado Mesa (home) vs. Univ. of the Southwest
  • 7 p.m. – Western Colorado (home) vs. Washington Adventist