GUNNISON, Colo.  Three Mountaineers played their final game for Western Colorado Friday evening in Paul Wright Gym as seniors Kevin Jimenez, Jaelan McCloud and Jonathan McCloud combined for 29 points and 6 rebounds in a 98-81 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference loss to visiting Westminster College on Senior Night at the gym.

Jaelan's 16 points led Western's scoring efforts, with Jimenez adding 13 while Jonathan's 3 rebounds led the trio on the glass.

JUST THE FACTS, JACK
Final score: Westminster def. Western, 98-81
Records: Western 4-22 (2-20 RMAC), Westminster 13-15 (12-10)
Location: Paul Wright Gym, Gunnison, Colo.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Though the Griffins would build five-, six- or seven-point cushions during the opening half, Western would close the gap each time, tying the score on multiple occasions before finally taking the lead, 46-45, on a Kade Juelfs jumper with 50 seconds remaining before the break.
• A late foul on the final shot of the half sent Westminster's Trey Farrer to the free-throw line where he sank both shots to allow the visitors to take back the lead, 47-46, at halftime.
• Each team had good half shooting over those opening 20 minutes as Western hit 14-of-27 (51.9 percent) from the floor and the Griffins were 16-of-31 (51.6%).
• The Mountaineers were perfect from the foul line, hitting all 11 attempts, including a 4-for-4 half from Avery Rembao. Westminster finished the half at 66.7% (10-of-15).
• The opening minutes of the second half provided a hint of how the rest of the game would play out, though. Before even three minutes had expired the Griffins had stretched their slim one-point advantage to an 11-point gap after dropping in three of its four baskets to start the half from behind the arc, while defensively limiting Western to just one point, a Rembao free throw.
• Despite the fast Griffins start, Western battled back to tie the score at 62-62, a rally that was capped by a pair of Juelfs free throws.
• That would be the last gasp for the Mountaineers, however, as the Griffins reeled off a 26-7 run to break the tie. Western would fight back to within 12 (90-78) but Westminster responded with another run to close out the game and road victory.

COURT NOTES

• Jaelan McCloud led Western in scoring, and joining him in double digits were Jimenez, Robel Desta (14 points), Rembao (13), and Juelfs (11).
• Trevin Lieck paced the Mountaineer with seven rebounds with Rembao and Gino Corridori chipping in with four apiece.
• Westminster was led by Farrer (22 points) and Taylor Miller (20), but also got help from three others in double figures.
• Farrer's 10 rebounds, for the double-double, led all players on the night, and helped the Griffins to a 39-27 advantage off the rim.
• Western finished the night with just five turnovers, to 10 by the Griffins, and scored 17 points off those turnovers.
• Head coach Bradd Schaffer started his three seniors alongside Rembao and Lieck. And Schaffer got great production from his bench, receiving 33 points from his subs compared to just 16 points added from the Westminster bench.

UP NEXT
Western's season ends with Friday's game, but Westminster will play Tuesday night in the quarterfinal round of the RMAC postseason tournament that concludes with the championship game on March 4.