GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Colorado Mesa University Men's Basketball Team opens action in Brownson Arena this weekend as they host the Maverick Thanksgiving Classic for their highly anticipated home opener.
Being joined by three men's teams and three women's teams a total of eight games will take place this weekend with the Mavericks playing at 7 P.M. both Friday and Saturday. They will take on Texas A&M International on Friday and then MSU Billings on Saturday.
More information about the tournament can be found at the sub link Maverick Thanksgiving Classic with tickets being available through cmumavericks.com/tickets or in person at the gate. Streaming will occur through the RMAC Network.
TOURNAMENT FORMAT
Friday
Women's Basketball: Fort Lewis vs. Sul Ross State – 12 P.M.
Men's Basketball: Western Colorado vs. MSU Billings – 2 P.M.
Women's Basketball: Colorado Mesa vs. Simon Fraser – 5 P.M.
Men's Basketball: Colorado Mesa vs. Texas A&M International – 7 P.M.
Saturday
Women's Basketball: Fort Lewis vs. Simon Fraser – 12 P.M.
Men's Basketball: Western Colorado vs. Texas A&M International – 2 P.M.
Women's Basketball: Colorado Mesa vs. Sul Ross State – 5 P.M.
Men's Basketball: Colorado Mesa vs. MSU Billings – 7 P.M.
Times are subject to change and will take place relative to when the prior games end.
LAST WEEK'S GAMES
The Mavericks dropped two tight games at the Skyhawks Hardwood Classic in Durango over the weekend, falling to a pair of Lone Star Conference schools.
They lost 77-75 to No. 25 Lubbock Christian in Friday's game despite a career-high 29 points from Mason Honeyman, who had 21 at halftime.
Ty Allred and Cohenj Gonzales both added 14 points in that game while Allred recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds.
Allred then had another double-double with 23 points and a career-high 17 rebounds, the highest rebounding total for any Maverick since 2016, in Saturday's 78-70 loss to Western New Mexico.
Through all four games played this season the Mavs have taken on schools from the Lone Star Conference and all of those being in-region competition.
LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS
Through just four games this season the Mavs are averaging 71.3 points per game while giving up 76.0 in return.
Despite being outscored, they are outshooting teams by almost 5%, with them shooting 44% from the field. They have had similar success at the three-point line as well shooting 37.8%, almost 8% better than opponents.
On the rebounding end, the Mavs are grabbing 36.8 boards per game with them owning a 5.0 margin over opponents.
Blocks have also been a strong suit with them owning the 18-9 advantage in that category.
Allred, Honeyman and Gonzales are all averaging 15.0 points per game to share the team scoring lead while Allred is also averaging 9.8 rebounds per game to rank second in the early season RMAC statistics.
Gonzales leads the RMAC in 3-point field goal percentage (.556) while ranking 14th in regular field goal percentage (.477).
Beyond that group Wes Ball has averaged seven board per game to rank second on the squad while Clayton Jewell has already totaled six blocks to lead the team.
COACH'S CORNER
Head Coach Mike Dunlap enters his second season leading the Mavs after going 19-10 in his debut season in 2024-25.
In his first year with the program, Dunlap had three players named to All-RMAC including returner Ty Allred, who was named to the First Team.
Despite being new to CMU, Dunlap is no stranger to the RMAC as he is currently a member of the conference's hall of fame with him having coached at MSU Denver for nine years and collecting two national championships.
He is a two-time NABC Division II National Coach of the Year.
2025-26 marks Dunlap's 45th season in the coaching ranks with him coaching all the way from Division III to serving as an NBA Head Coach of the Charlotte Bobcats (now known as the Hornets).
Dunlap is joined by assistants, Skyler Burgess and Eli Scott, with this being Burgess's second season as a part of the staff and as the head assistant. Scott enters his first season with the team and was hired prior to the start of the year. He reunites with Dunlap after having previously played for him at Loyola Marymount University.
ABOUT TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL
Owning the same record as the Mavs, the Dustdevils are 1-3 this season while currently being on a three-game losing streak. Their lone win comes against MSU Denver in the first game of the season.
They most recently played against Angelo State University on Monday, with the Rams winning 70-54.
Currently they are averaging 69.5 points per game while giving up 84.5 in return for a negative 15-point margin. They shoot 40.7% from the field with their opponents shooting over 50% against them.
Gaius M'Ella is the team's leading scorer averaging 18.3 points per game while also serving as the rebounding leader with 24 total boards.
Caylen Goff Brown and Jamyier Pattion join M'Ella as the other top scorers averaging 15.0 and 10.8 points each, respectively.
All-time, the Mavs own a 2-1 advantage over the Dustdevils with the last time the two met being in 2023 at Brownson Arena as well.
ABOUT MSU BILLINGS
The Yellowjackets are 6-1 this season with their only loss to this point being against Minot State University in a high-scoring 95-90 decision.
In their most recent game, they defeated Rocky Mountain College (Mont.) on Monday by a score of 89-77 for their annual Rimrock Rivalry. They have only played one other RMAC school this year with them taking on New Mexico Highlands in their season opener.
The Yellowjackets own one of the top offenses in their conference so far, averaging 87.3 points a game while giving up 75.7 points in return. They have scored 80 points or more in every game played so far.
Mason Landdeck is averaging 20 points a game to lead the squad while Bradnon Tchouya (14.3 ppg) and Miles Gurske (11.1 ppg) join him as the other top performers.
Landdeck also has 16 steals this year which ranks first in the conference.
The Yellowjackets and Mavs have only faced off three time in school history with MSUB winning all three matchups. This is the first time both school will face off again after last meeting in 2016.
RMAC NETWORK NEWS
The RMAC Network has moved to a pay-per-view model for the 2025-26 season. This season, all RMAC athletic events broadcast by its 15 full-member institutions and associate members will only be available for purchase via a single-game pass or a monthly or annual subscription. Revenue generated by the network will be redistributed to the league's membership to enhance their programs.
RMAC fans can purchase monthly and annual subscriptions that will provide them with access to all regular-season, championship, and archived broadcasts on the RMAC Network. A monthly subscription costs $25, and an annual subscription costs $130. Single-game passes are available for $10, which grants access to a single game for 24 hours.
Additionally, a discounted annual subscription price will be available to students, faculty, and staff of each member institution throughout the year. Purchasing options and pricing for individual RMAC Championships will be announced closer to each event.
COLORADO MESA TURNS 100
The CMU Century Celebration stands as the cornerstone of Colorado Mesa University's year-long centennial celebration. This ambitious initiative unites our community in honoring a rich heritage while boldly envisioning the next hundred years of academic excellence.
Led by the Steering Committee and six specialized sub-committees, we're orchestrating a transformative experience that will resonate through generations. Each committee brings unique expertise to create an unforgettable commemoration of our past, present and future.
To learn more about Colorado Mesa's 100-year celebration, visit cmucentury.com
UP NEXT
The Mavs will return to the road after their two-game home stint this weekend with them beginning conference play on Dec. 4 and 6 against UCCS and Colorado Christian University. Both games will take place at each school's respective home sites with Dec. 4 beginning at 7 P.M. and Dec. 6 being at 3 P.M.
