GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – For the first time this season the Colorado Mesa Men's Basketball (14-9, 10-7) team lost at home by a score of 67-62 to No.22 Dixie State (19-4, 14-3) Saturday night inside Brownson Arena. This loss snaps a 12-game home winning streak.

Four different Mavs scored in double figures as Tommy Nuno led with 13 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Michael Skinner recorded a career high seven assists tonight and added five points to go along with three steals.

The Mavericks shot 49.1 percent (26-of-53) from the field, 21.1 percent (4-of-19) from the three-point line, and 60.0 percent (6-of-10) from the free throw line.  

The team led for the opening three minutes of the game before Dixie State scored nine consecutive points and held a 9-4 advantage with under 15 minutes to play in the first half. The Mavericks got back within one point on two different occasions before Dixie State scored nine consecutive points to take a 31-21 lead with under five minutes to play.

Georgie Dancer struck a seven-point run in favor of the Mavericks that included a three ball from Kolton Peterson and a layup from Ethan Menzies to get with in a single possession, 31-28. The Mavs were outscored 9-2 in the final two minutes of the first half which gave Dixie State a 40-30 lead at the break.

The Mavericks outscored the Trailblazers 32-27 in the second half but could never gain a lead.

DSU drained a three to begin the second half and followed with two more points in the paint to hold their largest lead of the game, 45-30. The Mavericks answered with their best scoring run of the night recording a consecutive ten points to get within one point of the trailblazers, 49-48, at the second media timeout of the second half. In that run four different Mavericks scored including Ethan Richardson who started the run, Peterson who drained a three, Menzies who scored in the pain, and Nuno who finished the run with a field goal.

Dixie State answered with seven points to extend their lead 48-56, which forced Colorado Mesa to call a timeout with 6:50 remaining. The Mavericks continued to inch their way back into the game and made it a one possession game with 14 seconds remaining after Dancer recorded a fast break layup to make the score 65-62.

Forced to foul the Mavericks sent Jack Pagenkopf to the free throw line who recorded both free throws taking a five-point lead. The Mavericks attempted a three-pointer that came up empty as the score settled, 67-62.

The Trailblazers shot 43.1 percent (25-of-58) from the field, 33.3 percent (5-of-15) from free-point range, and 75.0 percent (12-of-16) from the free throw line.

Up Next

The Mavericks will continue RMAC games at home next weekend against Colorado Christian and Regis University on Feb 14 and 15.