GUNNISON, Colo. – Western State's Will Duggan hit a running jumper just a step inside half court with seconds on the clock to give Western State a 76-75 win over Colorado Mesa in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opener for both teams.
 
Colorado Mesa's Connor Nichols gave his team a two-point lead with 4.4 to play after Western State knotted the game at 73-73 with a Brady Subart three-pointer. That led to Duggan's heroics.
 
Nichols led the Mavericks with 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field including 2-for-3 from beyond the arc.
 
Colorado Mesa shot 45.9 percent (28-of-61) from the field and 44.4 percent (12-of-27) from beyond the three-point line.
 
CJ Davis had a season-high five three point baskets and finished the night with 17 points. Davis gave the Mavericks the early lead with a pair of three-pointers in the opening minutes of the game.
 
Ludvig Saldh scored a career-high 13 points and buried three three-pointers in 24 minutes of action.
 
The Mavericks led by as many as 15 points with 15 minutes to play in the game.
 
The Mavericks will head to Salt Lake City to close out the opening week of RMAC play as they take on the Westminster Griffins at 7:30pm.