GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Behind a career high night from Michael Skinner the Colorado Mesa Men's Basketball team (3-2) defeated Missouri Western, 94-92 OT, in their 2019-2020 home opener. Skinner led all scorers with 27 points (9-of-14 FG) and grabbed down a game high 11 rebounds to record his first career double-double.
The Mavericks nearly survived a second half Griffons' comeback after holding a 20 points lead with 11:31 remaining in regulation. Missouri Western scored 50 second half points to take the game into overtime. The Griffons were led by Tyus Millhollin and Reese Glover who each recorded 23 and 22 points, respectively.
In the first half the Mavericks held a 24-16 lead at the 10:23 mark, which was their largest lead of the half after Kolton Peterson and Jared Small drained back-to-back three pointers. Small recorded ten of his 14 points in the first half.
The Griffons got within two points, 28-26, with 5:25 remaining behind their best scoring run of the half. Small knocked down two field goals in the final two minutes of the opening half as an answer which gave the Mavs a 39-34 edge at the break.
It was all Mavs to begin the second half after they got out to a 59-40 lead with 14:09 remaining in regulation behind an 11-point run, which forced the Griffons to call a timeout. The Griffons inched their way back into the game throughout the remainder of regulation and closed the half on a 14-2 run that began at the 3:37 tick, but never gained a lead sending the game into overtime tied at 84.
In overtime, the Mavericks never led by more than two possessions and knocked down eight of their ten overtime points from the free-throw line. They defended two-three pointers from Millhollin in the final thirty seconds to secure the 94-92 win.
Tomorrow Game
The Mavericks will face Montana Western at 7 pm inside Brownson Arena tomorrow night (Nov 30) to conclude the 2019 Holiday Inn Thanksgiving Classic. Montana Western defeated Western Colorado, 73-71, in today's game and will enter Saturday's game with a 5-3 record.
