LAS VEGAS, N.M. It was anyone's game in the second half tonight (Jan. 13) against New Mexico Highlands. However, with 6:44 left in the game the Cowboys offense started rolling leading to them defeating the Mountaineers 64-76.
 
JUST THE FACTS
Final Score: New Mexico Highlands def., Western Colorado 76-64.
Records: Western Colorado 3-10, 1-8 RMAC, New Mexico Highlands (7-11, 5-7 RMAC)
Location: John A. Wilson Complex; Las Vegas N.M.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Western Colorado's offense was clicking to start the game, going on a 13-4 run – six-points coming from Robel Desta, five-points coming from Avery Rembao and Gino Corridori pitching in with two-points. New Mexico Highlands tried to keep up with the Mountaineers offense scoring two-point baskets on back-to-back possessions. However, Jaelan McCloud started heating up from beyond the arc, knocking down back-to-back-to-back three-pointers, giving Western a 22-8 lead.
• After the Cowboys made one free throw, Jonathan McCloud knocked down a three-pointer increasing Western's lead to 17-points.
• New Mexico Highlands offense woke up quickly after that, going on a 15-2 run, cutting the Mountaineers lead to 27-24. Back-to-back layups from Rembao increased Western's lead to 31-24. But, the Cowboys offense continued to fire on all cylinders, going on an 8-0 run to close out the half. At halftime, New Mexico Highlands had a 32-31 lead.
• Coming out of halftime, it was back and forth for the first six-minutes and 51-seconds of the second half as the scoreboard read 47-points apiece. A minute later, the Mountaineers increased their lead to four-points (51-47) on a Desta free throw and three-pointer. But, the Cowboys continued to keep pace with Western's scoring output every time they took a lead.
• With 6:44 left to play, Mountaineers up 56-54, New Mexico Highlands started to take control of the game going on a 16-4 run that resulted in them having a 70-60 lead, with 2:49 left on the scoreboard.
• 10-points is the closest Western would get from tying the game, for the remainder of the half.

COURT NOTES

• The Mountaineers had three players in double figures. Rembao was the leading scorer of the night, dropping 18-points, while Jaelan McCloud and Desta each had 13-points. Grant Wilkinson was the leading rebounder and assist leader for Western, grabbing eight boards and dishing out five assists.
• As a whole, the Mountaineers shot 40 percent (22-of-55) from the field, 37.9 percent (11-of-29) from three and 69.2 percent (9-of-13).
• Dante Moses shouldered the scoring load for New Mexico Highlands dropping 33-points. As a whole, the Cowboys shot 43.1 percent (25-of-58) from the field, 29.2 percent (7-of-24) from three and 79.2 percent (19-of-24) from the free throw line.

UP NEXT
Western will be back on the court tomorrow (Jan. 14) taking on CSU Pueblo at 7:30 p.m.