GRAND JUNCTION, COLO. – Pat Smith scored a game-high 19 points to lead No. 20 Midwestern State to a 74-57 win over the Colorado Mesa University men's basketball team in the Holiday Inn – Airport Thanksgiving Classic Saturday (Nov. 26).
 
The Mavericks struggled offensively in the first half shooting 28-percent (8-28). The Mustangs shot 40-percent (13-32) to lead 32-23 at the break.
 
CMU opened the second half on a five point run to cut the MSU lead to four, 32-28, but the Mustangs responded with a 9-0 run to build its lead to 13 with 16:50 remaining.
 
The Mavericks couldn't cut the deficit to single digits again as the Mustangs lead grew to as many as 18 with under two minutes remaining.
 
CMU struggled all night shooting the ball. The Mavericks shot 35-percent (21-59) from the field and 61-percent (11-18) from the line. CMU shot 16-percent (4-25) from behind the arc, including 1-13 (7-percent) in the second half.
 
CJ Davis scored a team-high 12 points draining three of the team's four 3-pointers.
 
Brandon Hoffer, Eimer Lopez and James Sylvester each scored 10 points each. Sylvester grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
 
Pat Smith led the Mustangs with a game-high 19 points, and Igor Ibaka tallied a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
 
MSU finished with a 50-37 edge in rebounds, including 17-10 on the offensive glass.
 
Colorado Mesa will open RMAC play Tuesday (Nov. 29) at Western State.