GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Colorado Mesa punctuated a statement weekend with a 50-point second half filled with blocks, dunks and perfect execution at the free throw line as the No. 9-ranked Mavericks defeated MSU Denver 92-81 for their second straight win over a top-four RMAC opponent.

Trevor Baskin had a monster performance with 25 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and six blocks. Baskin shot 8-for-11 from the field, 1-for-2 from three-point range and 8-for-8 from the foul line, part of a historic team performance at the stripe for Colorado Mesa.

The Mavericks went a perfect 23-for-23 from the free throw line, including 15-for-15 in the second half, setting a new RMAC and school record for most free throw makes without a miss. Combined with CMU's 10-for-10 team performance from the line on Friday, the Mavericks have now made 33 consecutive free throws (four off the NCAA record of 37 set over three games by Southern Indiana in 2003) and went the entire weekend without missing a foul shot.

Behind Baskin, Christopher Speller scored 21 points with six rebounds and five assists, functioning as CMU's primary ball-handler for significant stretches of the game. The 21 points is the most scored by Speller since December 19, 2020 against CSU Pueblo. Isaac Jessup had 17 points, hitting 3 of 6 three-point attempts, while Owen Koonce finished with 10 points to give the Mavs four players in double figures.

Colorado Mesa shot 51.7 percent from the field (30-58), 39 percent from three (9-23) and 100 percent from the line. MSU Denver shot the ball well also, finishing 50.8 percent from the field (32-63), 56 percent from three (9-16) and 67 percent from the line (8-12). The Roadrunners made 5 of 6 three-pointers in the first half.

Baskin collected three blocks in each half, including one on the very first play of the game when he swatted away a shot attempt from reigning RMAC Freshman of the Year Brayden Maldonado. The Roadrunners started strong, however, leading for the first three minutes of game time and battling the Mavericks to five lead changes and six ties in the first half.

The score was knotted at 37-37 with a minute remaining in the first half when Elijah Knudsen hit a step-back tiebreaking three-pointer, his second of the half. An exchange of free throws where the Mavericks made both and MSU Denver made one of two gave the Mavs a four-point lead at halftime, 42-38.

Colorado Mesa made its move out of the halftime break. After MSU Denver scored the second half's opening bucket, the Mavericks ripped off a 13-0 run to open up a 15-point lead at 55-40, punctuated by Christopher Speller assisting Baskin for a three-pointer before laying it up himself on CMU's next possession.

The Roadrunners continued to counterpunch, however, as they trailed by only six with under five minutes to play after a Caleb McGill layup made it 72-66. From there, Baskin took over to close out the game.

Baskin hit two free throws before blocking an MSU Denver attempt at the other end with 4:05 left to play in the contest. Baskin then assisted on three of CMU's next four field goals, setting Michael McCurry, Owen Koonce and Christopher Speller for in-the-paint baskets around an Isaac Jessup three that brought the score to 83-70 with two minutes left.  

Baskin's teammates repaid the favor, connecting with the redshirt junior for several alley-oop dunks in the closing stages of the match, including one fast break that Baskin ignited himself with a behind-the-back pass into the frontcourt. Baskin slammed home one final dunk with five seconds remaining for CMU's final points of the game.

After securing this week's two wins, Colorado Mesa remains tied with Fort Lewis atop the RMAC standings at 17-1 in conference play. The Mavericks are currently the second seed behind the Skyhawks as things stand, since Fort Lewis owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over Mesa. Behind the top two, Colorado School of Mines is three games behind at 14-4 overall while Black Hills State moves into fourth place at 11-7 in conference after MSU Denver's loss.

Colorado Mesa faces one final road trip hurdle in the regular season, embarking on a grueling three-game road trip to New Mexico Highlands next Friday, CSU Pueblo next Saturday and Westminster the following Tuesday. The Mavs close the regular season two Saturdays from tonight with a home game against Western Colorado on March 2.