Friday night the Mavericks hosted the Cowboys in a match of endurance and speed that came down to the wire. Mesa came into the game with a 7-9 record (5-3 RMAC), while heavily favored New Mexico Highlands had a 12-4 record (6-2 RMAC). Both of these teams took to the court ready to get their next win, but only one got it.
               The Cowboys managed to make the first two scores of the game; however, Mesa scored a three-pointer, keeping the game close. The scoreboard stayed close until about five minutes in, when the Mavs surged out in front and stayed there. It wasn't until there were only six minutes remaining in the first half that the Cowboys started to make any ground on the Mavs. The visitors continued to score until they tied it at 28-28, with only twenty-nine seconds before the half. It looked like the first half would end with the game tied at 28, but MSC's Ryan Mathews scored a three-pointer with only two seconds left on the clock to secure a 31-28 MSC halftime lead.

After the half, the Cowboys came right out and struck twice in a row, taking the lead away from the Mavs. Try as the Mavs might, they could not seem to catch the visitors who just wouldn't slow down. The Mavs made their move with just five minutes left on the clock and steadily pushed until they tied the game at 59 each with 3:21 remaining in regulation. The lead went back and forth with the scored tied four times in the final few minutes, but Mesa claimed their final lead with twenty-three seconds on the clock on a Ryan Mathews free throw and a 66-65 lead. Two successful free-throws by Jake Swartzendruber with one second left clinched a 68-65 victory for MSC.

Ryan Mathews had a game high 23 points shooting 6-of-10 from the floor. Jase Herl added 15 points, five rebounds and a game high five assists. Swartzendruber and Kurt Bangle had six rebounds each.

MSC will travel to Western State College Tuesday night.