GUNNISON, Colo.  Western Colorado will look to build on the momentum they have after defeating Colorado State University Pueblo (Jan. 22) 92-89 in overtime, as they take on Westminster (Jan. 28) and Colorado Mesa (Jan. 29) on the road.
 
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In accordance with regulations established by Western Colorado University COVID Policies and Procedures, all spectators for Western Colorado University indoor sporting events, including Paul Wright Gym and Mountaineer Field house, must wear masks regardless of vaccination status. Thank you for complying so we can continue to host events for our Mountaineer student-athletes and loyal fans.
 
MOUNTAINEERS HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND | SEASON STATS

• With 11 games left in the season, Western will need to put together a few winning streaks if they want to make the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament, as they currently are in 13th place (3-8) in the standings. The Mountaineers have shown throughout the season that they can compete with the best teams in the RMAC conference. However, the ball has just not bounced their way this season.
• Matthew Ragsdale has been a consistent offensive threat for Western this season averaging 24.5-points per game (No. 2 RMAC), on 49.2 percent shooting from the field (No. 14 RMAC), 40.8 percent shooting from three (No. 10 RMAC) and 87.7 percent shooting from the free throw line (No. 4 RMAC).
• Jaelan McCloud and Avery Rembao are also threats on offense averaging 9.8 and 9.2-points per game. During the course of the season McCloud has been one of the best three-point shooters in the RMAC knocking down 49 percent of his shots (No. 2 RMAC).
• The Mountaineers have one of the better offenses in the RMAC currently ranked No. 3 scoring 80.4-points per game and have the 15th ranked defense giving up 86-points per game.

GRIFFINS HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND | SEASON STATS

• Things haven't gone Westminster's way recently, losing their last two games against Regis (Jan. 21) and Colorado School of Mines (Jan. 22). That has resulted in the Griffins moving down to eighth place (6-6) in the RMAC standings.
• Westminster is led by Yusuf Mohamed, Jarrett Jordan and Brayden Johnson who average 14.1 (No. 18 RMAC), 12.5 and 10.4-points per game. Johnson has the best field goal percentage out of the trio making 60.2 percent (No. 3 RMAC) of his shots.
• The Griffins have the worse offense in the RMAC only scoring 66.8-points per game, but have one of the better defenses limiting teams to only 67.9-points per game. They shoot 43.9 percent from the field (No. 10 RMAC), 32.3 percent from three (No. 12 RMAC) and 67.7 percent from the free throw line (No. 14).

MAVERICKS HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND | SEASON STATS

• Colorado Mesa will have a lot of confidence – barring a set back against Fort Lewis College (Jan. 28) – as they defeated No. 12 ranked in the National Association of Basketball Coaches and second place in the RMAC standings Regis 86-80. That win has the Mavericks in third place (9-4) in the RMAC.
• Trevor Baskin, Jared Small, Georgie Dancer, Blaise Threatt, Mac Riniker, Owen Koonce and Reeec Johnson lead the way for Colorado Mesa on offense, scoring 14 (No. 20 RMAC), 11.7, 11, 11, 10.5, 10 and 9.9-points per game. Baskin has the best field percent out them all making 55.2 percent (No. 5 RMAC) of his shots, while Small is the best three-point shooter knocking down 43.5 percent (No. 4 RMAC) of his shots.     
• Additionally, Baskin, Threatt and Riniker are also threats on defense. Baskin blocs 1.6 shots (No. 2 RMAC) per game, while Threatt and Riniker average 1.5 steals apiece.
• The Mavericks have the sixth ranked offense averaging 77.5-points per game and the third ranked defense giving up 69.2-points per game. They shoot 48.9 percent from the field (No. 2 RMAC), 35.9 percent from three (No. 7 RMAC) and 73.6 percent from the free throw line (No. 5 RMAC).

ON THE COURT NEXT
The Mountaineers will head to Lakewood, Colo. on Tuesday, Feb. 1 to take on Colorado Christian University at 7 p.m.

RMAC Standings
1. Black Hills State, 10-1                                                  
2. Regis, 9-1                                             
3. Colorado Mesa, 9-4                                                  
4. MSU Denver, 7-4                                                      
5. UCCS, 7-5 
6. Fort Lewis, 5-4 
7. Colorado School of Mines, 6-5 
8. Westminster, 6-6 
9. Adams State, 5-6 
10. CSU Pueblo, 5-7 
11. South Dakota Mines, 5-7
12. Chadron State, 3-8
13. Western, 3-8
14. Colorado Christian, 2-9
15. New Mexico Highlands, 1-8