LAS VEGAS, N.M.  Western Colorado battled with host New Mexico Highlands through the opening five minutes of Saturday's Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference men's basketball game, but the Cowboys moved out to a 25-point halftime lead on the way to a 113-60 victory on their home court over the Mountaineers.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: N.M. Highlands def. Western 113-60
Records: Western 5-9 overall (3-3 RMAC), NMHU 5-12 (3-3)
Location: John A. Wilson Complex, Las Vegas, N.M.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Mountaineers battled with the Cowboys through the first seven minutes of Saturday's game, inching in front several times across multiple ties during the span.
• Tying the score at 15-15 on a Quincy Scott layup off a Mason Mottashed feed allowed Western to pull even at the 13:29 mark, but the Mountaineers would suffer through a scoring drought over the next three minutes while NMHU scored 14 unanswered points.
• Aidan McDowell's 3-pointer ended the drought, but the Cowboys would double up Western over the rest of the first half, 27-13, to forge a 56-31 advantage heading into the halftime break.
• The gap continued to grow as second half action approached its midway point, with Highlands going up 86-50 at the 9:59 mark.
• The Cowboys would continue to roll while Western struggled on a day on which the Mountaineers would shoot just 38 percent from the field.

COURT NOTES

• McDowell was one of four Mountaineers to reach double figures in scoring with a 15-point afternoon. Jordan Kuac and Reece Strawn would each add 12 with Scott contributing a 10-point afternoon.
• Marcus Pierce's 24 points led Highlands' six players to hit double digits on the day.
• The fast-paced game was relatively free of fouls, as both teams posted identical 5-for-9 opportunities from the free throw line. But Highlands dominated the the paint, scoring 64 of its points from in close and forging a 36-22 advantage in rebounding.

UP NEXT
Colorado Mesa University visits Paul Wright Gym on Tuesday, January 13 for an RMAC contest with the Mountaineers.