Grand Junction, Colo. - It's time for home basketball in Grand Junction this weekend as the Colorado Mesa University Men's Basketball Team will welcome a pair of non-conference opponents in their first home games of the season at Brownson Arena.
The Mavericks will look to take on two teams from near and far as they face off with opponents Bowie State University and Emporia State University. CMU will play Bowie State on Friday at 7:30 p.m. before concluding their weekend against Emporia State on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. as well.
Through two weeks of action, the Mavs are sitting at 2-2 on the season with them grabbing two wins this past week after starting their season 0-2. Both of the Mavs' wins would come in Durango when they competed in the Skyhawks Hardwood Classic and secured victories over Nothern New Mexico College and Western New Mexico College.
The Mavs' win over Northern New Mexico College would also serve as Head Coach Mike Dunlap's first win of his career at CMU.
LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS
Looking at the offensive output, the Mavs are averaging 68.3 points per game this season and are shooting 43.7% as a team. From the three-point line they are only shooting 29.5% but make up for it by shooting 73.5% from the free throw line.
Ty Allred has attributed largely to that free throw percentage as he 10-10 on free throw attempts this season.
Three different players on the team are also averaging double-digit scoring with that group being led by Mason Honeyman who's averaging 13.3 points per game. Allred follows behind, averaging 12.5 and Harvey White is third on the team averaging 10.0.
Allred is also the team's leading rebounder grabbing 7.9 boards per game. Will Mortimore is second on the team, averaging 6.3.
White is averaging 2.8 assists per game to lead the Mavs with Honeyman right behind him at 2.5 assists per game.
Both of the wins this season for the team came only by three points as the Mavs are still finding their way and navigating a team that is very freshman heavy.
Their biggest struggle has been in the turnover department early this season as they have committed 74 turnovers in comparison to their opponents, who have only recorded 48.
Nevertheless, they are riding a two-game winning streak right now and will rely on their strong rebounding game this weekend which is averaging 33 boards per game.
THIS WEEKEND'S FORMAT
Despite this weekend not being a tournament there will still be other games that take place prior to both of CMU's games. All games will take place in Brownson Arena.
This weekend's format will go as:
Friday at 5:30 – Fort Lewis College vs. Emporia State University
Friday at 7:30 – Colorado Mesa University vs. Bowie State University
Saturday at 5:30 – Fort Lewis College vs. Bowie State University
Saturday at 7:30 – Colorado Mesa University vs. Emporia State University
ABOUT BOWIE STATE
The Mavericks' first opponent this weekend will feature the Bowie State Bulldogs who hail all the way from Bowie, Maryland.
This season the Bulldogs are currently 3-2, with their most recent victory coming as a buzzer-beater win over Frostburg State University on Tuesday, Nov. 19.
The Bulldogs have been led this season by leading-scorer Amare Wimbush who is averaging 18.3 points per game. He is also the team's leading rebounder, averaging 5.3 boards per game. Three other players on the team are also averaging double-digit scoring in Warren Mouganda, Kevon Corley and Elijah Davis.
Friday's game will serve as the first time in school history that both CMU and BSU will meet in a men's basketball matchup.
ABOUT EMPORIA STATE
CMU will take on the Emporia State Hornets as their final opponent this weekend with this being the first time the two teams have met since the 2002 season. Lifetime the Mavs are 2-1 against the Hornets.
Through four games this season they are 1-3, with their lone win coming against Northern State University on Nov. 10, at the Hillyard Tipoff Classic. They have been on the road for every game of their season to this point.
The team's top performers include Malik Edwards Jr. and Brayson Laube as both are averaging scoring in the double digits. Edwards Jr. is averaging 17 points per game while Laube is averaging 13.3 points per game.
Emporia State is in its first season with a new head coach as well with Tom Billeter taking over the team prior to the fall. Billeter was formerly the head coach at Division II Augustana University for 21 seasons where he was awarded the National Coach of the Year award in 2013.
HOW TO WATCH
Streaming for all of this weekend's games will occur on the RMAC Network free of charge with live stats to follow along with. Tickets for the event can be purchased at cmumavericks.com/tickets or in person at the entrance.
