Denver, Colo.,   The Western Colorado Men's Basketball team defeated the Rangers 76-75 on Saturday evening.

JUST THE FACTS
Final Score:  Western Colorado Def. Regis University 76-75
Records: Western Colorado overall 3-6 (RMAC 2-2) | Regis overall 5-5 (RMAC 3-1).
Location: Denver, Colo. / Regis Field House
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Rangers were first on the board 2-0. Junior Jamel Hollins earned a three-point play, allowing the Mountaineers to take a 3-2 edge. Junior Andrew Reichart and senior Spencer Wright contributed buckets to put WCU up 9-7.
• The next stretch of points were traded by the respective teams seeing a tie score 18-18 with under ten-minutes left in the half. Regis scored back-to-back points, taking a 22-18 lead. Wright secured a defensive board, brought the ball up the court and found senior Trey Anderson for a shot behind the arch 22-21.
• The Mountaineers regained the lead after Anderson and senior Kade Juelfs knocked down threes 28-26. RU responded with a three to tie the game at 28-a-piece. Finding his first points of the game, sophomore Tyler Halligan finished around the rim giving WCU a 31-29 edge. A foul called on WCU put RU on the line, knocking down both, 31-31.
• With three minutes left to play, another lead change, the Rangers had a one-point advantage over the Mountaineers 34-33. Shortly after, Hollins sunk two from the charity stripe 35-34. RU earned a three-point play to end the half, going into the locker room 37-35.
• Rivers exchanged points with the Rangers to kick off the second half 39-37. RU completed an and-one play to go up five 42-37. On the other end, Hollins found Juelfs for a knock down three 42-40. RU missed a jumper allowing WCU to push the ball, finding Hollins under the basket, sending him to the charity stripe 42-42.
• A driving layup by Rivers awarded WCU the lead 44-42. Regis, with consecutive scores, gained a 47-44 edge. A missed layup by the Mountaineers led to an offensive board and kickout to Rivers who tied the game 47-47.
• With roughly ten minutes left in the game, Regis took a seven-point lead 60-53. Anderson and Juelfs knocked down shots to make it a one score game 60-58. The game was a nail-bitter, both teams matching each other's baskets.
• A few scoreless possessions for the respective teams until under three-minutes to play Anderson hit two shots to give WCU a 72-70 lead forcing RU to call a timeout. Out of the pause, the Rangers sunk a three then two free throws 75-72.
•  With twenty seconds left, Rivers stole the ball then finished around the rim 75-74. Timeouts were called by both teams, WCU fouled, got the rebound off the miss resulting in the winning basket by Rivers 76-75.

 
COURT NOTES

• Anderson led the Mountaineers offense with 21-points, going 8-16 from the field and 4-10 from behind the arch. Rivers followed with 17, shooting 7-11 from inside the arch and 1-1 from three. Hollins finished with 10 and Juelfs with 9.
• Reichart pulled down 6 boards and contributed 7 points. Hollins brought down 5, followed by Juelfs and Halligan each with 4.
• Wright helped his teammates score, recording 5 assists.
• The Mountaineers shot 46% from the field, 29.2 from three and 61.1 from the charity stripe.
• WCU has 31 bench points, 9 fast break points, 42 points in the paint, and 17 second chance points.

UP NEXT

• The Mountaineers host Northwest Indian College on Thursday December 19 at 6pm for the final game of 2024.

For more information visit gomountaineers.com.