PUEBLO, Colo. - The Mavericks couldn't have ended a trial some 2020 year in a better fashion after completing yet another road sweep of two RMAC opponents, and go into the new year with a 6-0 record, after downing CSU Pueblo 76-67 on Saturday night in Massari Arena
 
Story of the night belongs to Christopher Speller who in just his sixth collegiate game, put up a career high 29 points to lead the Mavericks in their fourth win over the Thunderwolves in the last six contests.
 
Speller shot 9-of-12 from the floor without even attempting a three pointer and also tossed in 11 free throws in 37 minutes on the floor. The former Rangeview Raider exploited the CSU Pueblo defense shooting a game-high 72 percent from the floor which helped the Mavericks shoot 55.1 percent as a whole.
 
Mac Riniker also added a career-high of his own, grabbing 14 rebounds which beat out any other player on the floor. CMU out-rebounded CSU Pueblo 34-28 while also scoring 16 points off turnovers which proved to be a big factor in the second half.
 
Both teams were struggling to gain an edge in the first 20 minutes of play. The Mavericks had a small three-point advantage going into halftime leading the Pack 35-32. CMU shot 51.85 percent in the first half but failed to make a single three pointer going 0-5.
 
They ended the night making only two three pointers which is rather shocking considering CMU came into the night with the highest three-point percentage out of any RMAC team and the 12th best in the entire country.
 
CSU Pueblo was not much better, shooting 22.2 percent from deep in the second half, unable to build off the 57 percent they shot in the first.
 
Speller and the other players in the young CMU continued to make plays down the stretch and get to the foul line preventing the Thunderwolves from gaining a sense of momentum. It seemed at points either team was failing to gain an edge considering the 13 lead changes that occurred throughout the game.
 
In the final ten minutes, the Mavericks were able to break into a double-digit lead fast break points by Mac Riniker. The Thunderwolves eventually cut the lead back down to one point with four minutes to play, however some crucial jumpers by Speller and Reece Johnson, who finished the night with 10 points, gave CMU some critical breathing room.
 
Time would wind down and the fouls started to add up for CSU Pueblo and CMU would make all but one free throw in the final three minutes.
 
The 6-0 start by CMU is the best start under Mike DeGeorge and one of the best starts to a year in program history. The Mavericks are one of only two teams to remain undefeated in the RMAC as Colorado Mines, who entered the weekend ranked No. 5 in the country, defeated Fort Lewis on Saturday.
 
The Mavericks will have the Christmas weekend off but will return to Brownson to host UCCS to begin the 2021 calendar year.