SPEARFISH, S.D. – Colorado Mesa fought hard from behind but was limited to 35 percent shooting from the field in a 73-61 loss to the Black Hills State Yellowjackets on Friday evening in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference men's basketball matchup.
 
The Mavericks fell behind by as many as 13 in the first half at 28-15 with 10:19 left in the half but cut into the lead in the second half. They got it to five points at 47-42 with 11:53 left in the game but couldn't get any closer.
 
Colorado Mesa was limited to 35 percent shooting from the field and 25 percent from beyond the arc. They forced 13 turnovers on defense but could only muster 11 points off those turnovers.
 
Sophomore Connor Nichols led the Mavericks with 13 points including 5-for-6 from the free-throw line.
 
Junior CJ Davis added 10 points and six rebounds but was just 1-for-8 behind the three-point line on the evening.
 
Eimer Lopez rounds out the Maverick contingent in double figures with 10 points and four boards.
 
The Mavericks fall to 5-15 on the season and 4-10 in the RMAC while Black Hills improved to 6-15 on the year and 3-12 in the conference.
 
Colorado Mesa remains two games out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the RMAC standings with an important matchup up tomorrow afternoon.
 
Colorado Mesa will take on the South Dakota Mines Hardrockers tomorrow afternoon at 5:30pm in Rapid City.