Gunnison, Colo.,   The Western Colorado Men's Basketball team defeats RMAC opponent New Mexico Highlands by a score of 89-75 at home on Saturday evening.

JUST THE FACTS
Final Score: Western Colorado University Def. New Mexico Highlands 89-75
Records: Western Colorado overall 5-8 (RMAC 3-3) | NMHU overall 7-7 (RMAC 0-6).
Location: Paul Wright Gym, Gunnison, Colo.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Junior Jamel Hollins found junior Andrew Richart under the basket for the opening layup 2-0. The Cowboys answered with a bucket in the paint 2-2. WCU and NMHU both missed layups, resulting in another offensive possession for WCU. Senior Amar Rivers was sent to the line knocking down two 4-2.
• Senior Kade Juelfs traded baskets with the Cowboys (2) seeing a tie score 6-6. Senior Trey Anderson received a pass from Rivers for an open three 9-6. The Mountaineers took a 15-6 lead after Reichart and Hollins finished around the net.
• Highlands added a couple to their score but a shot from behind the arch by sophomore Tyler Halligan put the Mountaineers up by eight 18-10. Senior Spencer Wright exchanged threes with the Cowboys for a 21-13 score.
• With under five minutes to play, the Mountaineers stretched their lead 32-19. The Cowboys earned a few defensive stops and scored three consecutive buckets to close the gap 32-27. WCU went three minutes without a score until Juelfs drew a foul knocking down two from the charity stripe 34-27. Baskets were traded the remainder of the half, but WCU went into the locker room with a 48-39 edge.
• The Cowboys started the second half with the ball and going 1-2 from the free throw line 48-40. Western went on a ten-point run, Hollins (2), Reichart (6), Anderson (3), to grasp a nineteen-point advantage 59-40.  NMHU was finally able to find a bucket 59-42, but Juelfs with a three and Reichart with a dunk elevated the Mountaineers score 64-42.
• Back-to-back threes from Halligan and junior Christian Still put WCU on top 71-46 with under fifteen minutes to play. The following minutes were hard fought by the respective teams. NMHU was able to sneak in a few more buckets in but WCU maintained their 79-51 lead with roughly eight minutes to play.
• The Cowboys kept battling, knocking down shots getting within fourteen 87-73. Junior Camden Kilbride hit the final shot for WCU; Mountaineers win 89-75.  

 

COURT NOTES

• Reichart led the offense with 21 points, going 9-10 from the field and 3-5 from the charity stripe. Rivers followed with 13, Juelfs recorded 11 and Anderson and Halligan respectively earned 10.
• Hollins pulled down 8 total boards, Anderson had 6 and Reichart and junior Trevin Lieck each had 5.
• Rivers helped the Mountaineers, recording 6 assists followed by Hollins who had 4 and Anderson, Juelfs, Wright, and Halligan whom all finished with 3.
• The Mountaineers shot 55.4% from the field, 42.3% from behind the arch and 66.7% from the free throw line.
• WCU had 27 bench points, 8 steals, 25 assists, 17 fastbreak points, 13 points off turnovers, 38 points in the paint, and 12 second chance points.

 
UP NEXT
The Mountaineers are back in action as they host RMAC opponent Colorado Mesa on Tuesday January 14 in Paul Wright Gym, for a halftime extravaganza.
 
For more information visit gomountaineers.com