GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – No. 4 (1) Colorado Mesa and No. 5 (2) Colorado School of Mines meet up in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament Championship tonight in Brownson Arena.
Saturday's contest will be a rematch of last year's championship match up.
SEMIFINAL RECAP
For the third time this season the Mavericks met up with the Grizzlies of Adams State, this time in the first semi final of the RMAC tournament. By a 78-66 decision, CMU defeated their opponent and secured their spot in the championship.
Adams State got things going with back-to-back baskets, but Colorado Mesa responded back with back-to-back 3-pointers to come out on top. From then on the Mavericks maintained the lead for rest of the half, thanks in large part to hot shooting from beyond the arc.
Just a few minutes into the second half, CMU used a 9-0 run to go up by 11 for their largest lead of the game thus far. Things remained in favor of the home team for the remainder of the game, as
Jared Small put in a pair of free throws to cap of both teams scoring for the night.
Mac Riniker led the offensive efforts with 14-points, followed by
Ethan Menzies with 13-points and a team high 9-rebounds. Three other Maverick players finished in double-figures,
Jared Small (13),
Georgie Dancer (10) and
Reece Johnson (10).
LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday's match between to top-ranked teams is one you don't want to miss. It will mark the second time the Colorado Mesa Mavericks and the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers meet this season.
The long-awaited game finally happened on Feb. 20 in Golden, which saw the Mavs use a second half surge to take down the Orediggers, 64-58, who were ranked No. 1 at the time.
Ethan Menzies and
Georgie Dancer contributed 17-points apiece, with
Christopher Speller chipping in 13-points to aid in the win. Menzies also finished with eight rebounds, two blocks and a steal.
Following that night, the Orediggers capped off the regular season with wins over Adams State and CSU Pueblo, and then received a first-round bye in the tournament due to COVID-19 protocols with South Dakota Mines.
In the night cap on Friday, the Orediggers outlasted the Black Hills State, 71-64. Austin Means scored a team-high 15-points, followed up by Michael Glen with 13.
**Per RMAC Policy no fans will be admitted in Brownson Arena, but live stats and live stream will be available on cmumavericks.com
