Colorado Mesa University Athletics

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.— Boy Van Vliet scored 30 points while his Dallas Baptist University Patriots went on a 23-6 run over the first 7:38 of the second half en-route to a 86-62 win over the host Colorado Mesa University Mavericks in the final game of the D2 Conference Challenge presented by the DoubleTree Hotel, Saturday night here in Brownson Arena.
 
The Patriots, who went 2-0 on the weekend, shot 60.7 percent (34-56) from the field and hit 9 of 25 3-pointers (36.0 percent).
 
The Mavericks fell to 0-2 for the weekend and the young season but received 18 points and five boards from Emilio Acedo and 15 points, six rebounds and five steals from Connor Nichols.  However, the Mavericks were guilty of 26 turnovers, which led to 38 Patriot points, and were held to 34.7 percent (17-49) shooting from the field.
 
The Patriots had led by as many as 11 (28-17) in the first half before the Mavericks went on a 13-2 run to tie the game at 30.  CJ Davis then hit a 3-pointer in the final minute of the half to give the Mavericks their first of only two leads of the night, 33-32.  However, the Patriots hit one of two free throws with six seconds left in the period to level the score at 33 heading into the break.
 
CMU would get another Davis free throw to begin second half scoring but watched the Patriots score the next 11 points to build a 44-34 lead with 16:38 left.
 
The Patriots extended that lead to 56-39 with 12:22 left and never looked back building their lead to as many as 31 points in the late stages.
 
In the first game of the night, St. Edward's (Texas) defeated Colorado Christian, 91-78.
 
The Mavericks will be in Gunnison next weekend facing Midwestern State (Texas) and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical (Ariz.) at the Western State Tournament next Friday and Saturday, respectively.