Box ScoreSILVER CITY, N.M. – The Colorado Mesa University men's basketball team defeated Western New Mexico 83-61 for its seventh straight win Friday (Feb. 5).
The teams battled early with the Mavericks and Mustangs trading the lead throughout the first half. Neither team would lead by more than a handful of points, and CMU enjoyed a narrow 36-31 lead at the half.
The Mavs opened the second half on an 11-2 run and the CMU lead would grow to as many as 20, 65-45, midway through the half. WNMU cut the CMU lead to 14 late, but Mesa earned an 83-61 win.
CMU dominated the play in the paint outscoring WNMU 42-24. Most of that was credit to
Ryan Stephan who finished with a game-high 26 points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds to complete the double-double. Stephan was nearly automatic from the field shooting 10-of-14 (71-percent) and made 5-of-6 free throws.
CJ Davis finished with 12 points, all from behind the arc, and
Kabir West contributed 10 points.
CMU shot 43-percent (32-68) from the field and held WNMU to 35-percent (21-59).
Mesa forced 16 turnovers which led to 26 points. Western scored only seven points off 15 Mesa turnovers.
The Mavs dominated play on the glass out-rebounding the Mustangs 46-32.
Steven Louks led Western New Mexico with 10 points.
Colorado Mesa (16-6, 12-4) will face New Mexico Highlands Saturday (Sept. 6) in Las Vegas, N.M.
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