GRAND JUNCTION, COLO. – CJ Davis scored a career-high 28 points to lead the Colorado Mesa University men's basketball team to a 99-97 win over rival Western State Tuesday (Jan. 31).

All eight of Davis' field goals came from behind the arc and he scored eight of the team's 14 3-pointers.

Mesa and Western swapped the lead early before the Mountaineers went on an 11-0 run to earn its largest lead of the game at 16 points, 34-18, with 7:46 remaining in the half.

The Mavericks responded with a 16-2 run to close within one, 39-38, with under three minutes remaining.

Western clung to a one-point lead at the half after shooting 53-percent (16-30) from the field and 61-percent (11-18) from behind the arc.

Mesa had similar numbers over the first 20 minutes, shooting 50-percent (17-34) from the field and 58-percent (7-12) from deep.

The Mavericks led for nearly the whole second half extending its lead to as many as 10, 89-79, with three minutes remaining.

Collin Smith drained a 3-pointer, followed up with a lay-up and Monroe Porter added another 3-pointer and the Mavericks lead was down to just two, 89-87.

Brady Stubart tied the game at 93 after draining a 3-pointer and the ensuing free throw with 40 seconds remaining.

Connor Nichols missed a jumper at the other end, but Eimer Lopez grabbed the offensive rebound and converted both free throws.

Monroe Porter, who finished with 15 points and four 3-pointers, had a good look from three but his shot was off the mark.

Nichols made two more free throws for CMU whose lead was back to four, 97-93.

Mesa and Western traded free throws, and James Willis concluded the scoring for Western with a lay-up at the end of regulation.

Eimer Lopez shot 10-of-14 from the field to finish with 25 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the double-double.

James Sylvester was the third Mesa player in double figures with 13 points.

Ben Beauchamp led five Mountaineers in double figures with 27 points.

CMU won the rebounding battle 37-25 and 9-2 on the offensive glass.

Colorado Mesa (7-15, 6-10) will host Westminster Saturday (Feb. 4).