GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.— The Colorado Mesa University men's basketball team grinded out their second 64-63 win of the week and extended their winning streak to a season-best six with a 64-63 win over visiting Westminster University on Saturday afternoon here in Brownson Arena.
The victory was their tenth overall of the season followed a buzzer-beater, by the same score, at Western Colorado University on Tuesday and moved the now 10-6 Mavs to 4-4 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play.
The Griffins, who had come into Saturday's contest with identical 9-6 and 3-4 RMAC marks, fell to 9-7 and 3-5 in conference play despite a game-high 20 points from Chase Potter and another 16 from Simom Akena.
The Mavs were led by 14 points from Chistopher Speller, who was a perfect 7-for-7 shooting. He also added six rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Freshman
Emilek Jallow also chipped in 12 points and five rebounds while nailing a trio of 3-point shots in his best collegiate game to date.
The contest featured nine lead changes, including six in the second half alone, and seven ties as the Mavericks withstood a missed Jonah El-Farra layup and Akena tip-in attempt in the waning moments to hang on to the win.
CMU sophomore
Yaak Yaak made what proved to be the game-winning bucket with 45 seconds to go and finished with seven points and six rebounds, scoring each of the Mavs' final five points in the last three minutes. Both teams then committed turnovers in the final minute as the Griffins were not able to convert on their final possession, which began in the front court with 21.3 seconds to go.
The Mavericks made their first five and six of their first seven 3-pointers and finished the first half shooting 75.0 percent (6-8) from beyond the arc and 62.5 percent (15-24 overall).
However, the Griffins, who trailed 39-33 at the half and by seven (46-39) with just over 13 minutes to go, went on a massive 16-2 run over the next four minutes to build a 55-48 lead of their own.
Jallow then responded with one of his three triples before a Speller driving layup and Jallow dunk tied the game at 55 with 6:59 to go.
However, Jallow was called for a technical foul for hanging on the rim as the Griffins went back in front 56-55 on the ensuing free throw.
The Mavs then scored seven of the next ten points going ahead 62-59 on a Yaak 3-point play with 2:58 left
The Griffins did not go away and took a 63-62 lead on a Potter floating jumper and an Akena layup with a minute to go following a Maverick traveling violation.
However Yaak, kissed the game-winner off the glass just 15 seconds later setting up the thrilling finish.
The Mavericks finished the afternoon shooting 48.1 percent (26-54) from the field, shooting just 36.7 percent (11-30) in the second half. However, their defense was strong and forced eight of the Griffins' 12 turnovers in the final 20 minutes.
The Mavs also finished with a 31-35 rebounding advantage and grabbed nine offensive rebounds in the second half and 12 overall while scoring 14 second chance points.
They also received 33 points off the bench and scored 34 in the paint.
The Mavs are now 4-0 in 2025 and 5-2 at home this season, winning three home contest in the last nine days.
They will now head out on their longest conference road trip of the season, playing at Black Hills State on Thursday in Spearfish, South Dakota before heading to Chadron, Nebraska and Chadron State next Saturday. Those teams sit just ahead and behind the Mavs in the RMAC standings with 5-3 and 3-4 RMAC records, respectively.
