Box Score GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Sophomore Ryan Stephan scored a career-high 25 points to lead Colorado Mesa to a 74-61 win over Chadron State to open Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play Friday (Dec. 6).

Stephan shot 7-of-11 from the field and 11-of-14 from the field. The Lakewood, Colo., native also grabbed a career-high eight rebounds and blocked a season-high three shots.

The Mavericks led from the beginning and would lead by as many as 15 points with five minutes remaining in the half. The Eagles would close the half on a 12-6 run to cut the Maverick lead to 38-29 at halftime.

CMU shot 40-percent (6-15) from the field in the second half but made 24-30 free throws to outscore CSC 36-32 over the final 20 minutes.

The Eagles kept the Maverick lead to single digits until just over four minutes remaining. The Mav's lead grew once again to 15 with less than a minute to go before settling at 13.

Junior Landon Vermeer scored 12 points for CMU, and junior Carlos Perez added 10 points off the bench.
Christopher Smith led three Chadron players in double figures with 13 points.

Chadron shot just 63-percent from the free throw line (12-19) and 37-percent (20-54) from the line.

Colorado Mesa improves to 3-2 overall and 1-0 in league play while Chadron State falls to 3-2 overall and 0-1 in the RMAC.

Mesa will close out the weekend against Black Hills State Saturday (Dec. 7).