GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Colorado Mesa men's basketball program will continue its home stand this weekend in Brownson Arena with a pair of dangerous opponents. They will host second place Regis at a special time of 5:30pm before a Saturday tilt with an upstart Colorado Christian team with tip-off set for 7:30pm.
 
SHOES
Friday's special game time will be coupled with a Shoe Drive to benefit those in need. Anyone who brings shoes, new or old, to donate will receive a coupon for a free small popcorn.
 
STANDINGS WATCH
Keep an eye on those Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference standings as Colorado Mesa is in the fifth spot currently with the top four teams hosting a quarterfinal matchup. Colorado School of Mines is in the top spot and holds a three-game lead over second place Regis. New Mexico Highlands and UCCS are a game behind Regis with matching 9-4 conference marks.
 
The Mavericks are in a tie for fifth place with Black Hills State and Chadron State, both of whom they defeated this year in their lone matchup.
 
NEW SHOOTER
Maverick newcomer Kenzo Nudo enjoyed his best weekend as a Mav in the weekend split with Dixie State and Westminster. Nudo, a Grand Canyon transfer, averaged 24 points per game over the weekend including an explosion of 30 points in the win over Westminster.
 
After seeing limited minutes in his first two weekends, the Scottsdale native averaged nearly 23 minutes of floor time per night.
 
LEADER OF THE PACK
Senior Connor Nichols continues to lead the RMAC in scoring at 21.2 points per game which also ranks as the 34^th best mark nationally. Nichols has a field goal percentage of 54.0 which is the fourth best mark in the conference.
 
Nichols had a career-high 37 in the win over Black Hills State while this past weekend he scored a season-low nine points despite the Mavericks 20-point win over Westminster.
 
SCOUTING THE RANGERS
Regis enters the weekend in second place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference standings. The Rangers are 13-6 overall and 10-3 in the conference, three games behind first place Colorado School of Mines.
 
Regis is coming off a weekend where they swept both Fort Lewis and Adams State in Regis Fieldhouse, winning each game by single digits. They have won seven of their last eight games after a stretch where they dropped three games in a row prior to the winter break.
 
Jarrett Broadbeck is the clear-cut leader of the Rangers. He averages 18.4 points and 3.7 rebounds per game in 33 minutes of action. Broadbeck scored a season-high 34 points in last week's win over Adams State and set his season-high of 35 points last season in the win over Colorado Mesa.
 
Last Five Meetings
January 6, 2018 – @ Regis 103, Colorado Mesa 82
January 7, 2017 – Regis 74, @ Colorado Mesa 72
February 20, 2016 – @ Colorado Mesa 86, Regis 83
January 22, 2016 – Colorado Mesa 105, @ Regis 80
January 24, 2015 – @ Colorado Mesa 82, Regis 56
 
SCOUTING THE COUGARS
Colorado Christian is a very difficult team to figure out on paper. The Cougars are 5-14 on the season and 3-10 in the conference but possess wins against some of the conference's top teams.
 
The Cougars split home games with Adams State and Fort Lewis at the CCU Events Center, falling to Adams State 73-63 and defeating the Skyhawks 89-77. They snapped an eight-game losing streak by defeating Black Hills State in Spearfish, S.D. earlier this month.
 
Senior Jeremiah Hanson paces the Cougar offense by averaging 14.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. Hanson scored a season-high 26 points against Chadron State earlier this season and has scored in double figures in eight straight games.
 
Last Five Meetings
January 13, 2018 – @ Colorado Mesa 85, Colorado Christian 70
January 14, 2017 – @ Colorado Christian 76, Colorado Mesa 72
December 19, 2015 – Colorado Mesa 91, @ Colorado Christian 82
January 31, 2015 – @ Colorado Christian 81, Colorado Mesa 77
January 2, 2015 – @ Colorado Mesa 66, Colorado Christian 64
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Colorado Mesa will be on the road for two weeks beginning next week with the return trip to the Utah schools. The Mavericks will play at Westminster next Friday evening before traveling south to St. George for a matchup with Dixie State.