Grand Junction, Colo. – With wins over Western State and Fort Lewis last weekend to close out the regular season, the nationally ranked Colorado Mesa men's basketball team earned the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular season title and the right to host a first-round matchup.
The tournament tips-off on Tuesday, with the Mavericks hosting the Chadron State Eagles who enter the tournament as the No. 8 seed, and the Mavs earning the No. 1 seed. Per RMAC Policy no attendance will be permitted at any of the tournament games.
When these two teams last met on Dec. 12 in Chadron, the Eagles took the then No. 22 Mavs into double-overtime. CMU used a 12-3 scoring effort in the second overtime period, to complete the comeback and escape with a 77-68 victory.
Ethan Menzies led all scorers with 22-points, followed by
Mac Riniker with 16.
Reece Johnson and
Georgie Dancer were the other two players in double-figures with 12 and 10 points respectively.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
The visiting Chadron State Eagles make their way to Brownson Arena after finishing the regular season with a 5-7 record. After taking a 63-60 victory over Black Hills in the Chicoine Center, they hit a road skid falling to MSU Denver and Colorado Christian last weekend.
With just two losses at home, the Mavericks behind one of them, the Eagles haven't had as great success on the road, going 0-5 when away from their home court.
CSC will also be without two players who played in the first matchup against CMU, Jacob Jefferson and Deion Rhea. Rhea led the scoring and defensive efforts on the Dec. 12 contest.
Junior, Teddy Parham Jr. has since taken over as the Eagles offensive threat, averaging 15.6 points per contest. Deundra Roberson (11.0) and Marcus Jefferson (10.4) are the two other players averaging double-figures. Jefferson's offensive presence also includes leading the team in assists, while also averaging a team high 5.2 rebounds on the opposite end of the court.
