DALLAS, Texas – The Colorado Mesa University Men's Basketball Team dropped a 72-62 decision to the St. Edward's Hilltoppers in their final game of the D2 Conference Challenge event at the Burg Center on the campus of Dallas Baptist University. 
 
The two teams played to a total of five lead changes and two ties in a very back-and-forth affair. It was the Hilltoppers 23-10 run in the final 10 minutes that was the difference in the outcome.
 
Colorado Mesa moves to an even 1-1 now on the season while St. Edward's remains undefeated, moving to 5-0. The Hilltoppers defeated Colorado Christian University yesterday as well by a score of 80-52.
 
The duo of Cohenj Gonzales and Mason Honeyman served as the team's top scorers in today's game as both finished with 15 points. Honeyman added five assists to lead the squad.
 
Ty Allred, who hit yesterday's game-winner over No. 3 Dallas Baptist, finished with eight points and four rebounds while Wes Ball also scored eight points with a team leading seven rebounds.
 
Both schools shot just 38% from the field in the game while St. Edward's went 9-31 from three-point range for 29%. Six of those three pointers came in the first 10 minutes before a staunch CMU defense was able to limit them the rest of the way.
 
St. Edward's jumped out to an early lead because of their hot shooting, the Hilltoppers led 21-12 through eight minutes of play before the Mavs responded strongly keeping it within a single-digit deficit till the final two minutes of the half.
 
In the final five minutes of the first half Colorado Mesa was able to outscore the Hilltoppers 12-5 while forcing them to miss seven times from the field and commit two turnovers.
 
The Mavericks led 37-34 going into the half with Honeyman and Gonzales already into double figure scoring.
 
Both teams swapped the lead through the first 10 minutes of the second half, with neither growing a larger lead than six.
 
The back-and-forth battle looked to be never ending but ultimately went in St. Edward's way with roughly eight minutes left to play. Closing the game the Hilltoppers went 5-7 from the field while Colorado Mesa managed just two made shots on their last 14 attempts.
 
In addition, the Hilltoppers' made nine free throws through the final 10 minutes compared to CMU's five.
 
Staying on the road for another two games, the Mavs now head to Durango this upcoming weekend as they take part in the Skyhawks Hardwood Classic, hosted by Fort Lewis College. The Mavs will take on Lubbock Christian University and Western New Mexico in their stay.