GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Concluding the regular season this week the Colorado Mesa University Men's Basketball Team will face off twice more this week in RMAC action before preparing for postseason play.
In this week's games the Mavericks will take on two familiar opponents from this season as they first head to Westminster University on Thursday the 27th to take on the Griffins at Behnken Field House at 7:30 P.M. before hosting their final home game of the year on Saturday March 1st at Brownson Arena at 3 P.M against Western Colorado.
Saturday's game will serve as Senior Night for the Mavs and also be Make-a-Wish Night.
In addition, both games this week will have major impacts on the RMAC Tournament seedings with the Mavs currently sitting in a tie for fourth place with a chance to reach as high as third pending this week's results. In the RMAC Tournament, the top eight teams all receive bids with the top four serving as hosts for the first round.
LAST WEEK'S GAMES
The Mavs played to their second consecutive 2-0 week after a pair of wins against both South Dakota schools last Thursday and Saturday and are now riding a four-game winning streak heading into this week.
In Thursday's game against South Dakota Mines the Mavs picked up a 69-51 victory with the team leading for over 20 minutes of the contest. Following an early deficit Colorado Mesa was able to claw their way back and go on a 14-3 run to end the first half en route to an 18-point win as they never gave the lead up again in the second half. Yaak Yaak recorded his fourth double double of the season in the win finishing with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Will Mortimore matched him in scoring adding 16 points in the game as well to lead the squad.
Ending the weekend on Saturday against Black Hills State, the Mavs were able to grab another win as they defeated the Yellowjackets 64-57 thanks to solid defense. Colorado Mesa limited Black Hills to shooting just 31.7% from the field while limiting their three-point approach to under 30 percent. This was the Mavs second time this season that they defeated Black Hills after defeating the Yellowjackets in overtime on Feb. 22 in Spearfish. In the win, four different players scored in double digits for the Mavs with both Mason Honeyman and Yaak leading the way at 13 points apiece.
LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS
With one week left of regular season to play the Mavs will look to continue their trend upward in several statistical categories as they have improved in multiple areas all year long.
Offensively the team is shooting an improved 45.9% from the field while averaging 71.8 points per game. From the three-point line they are shooting 32.3% while going 74.5% from the free throw line. Both their field and free throw line percentages are marked in the top 10 of the conference.
Sticking with their calling card of defense, the Mavs are best in three other areas of the conference this season as they are a top five team in rebounds, steals and blocks. The team's ability to grab rebounds has been a focal point as they are currently grabbing 36.7 boards per game while also averaging 7.19 steals per game. In addition, they lead the conference in blocks with 108, having 10 more than the next team in the rankings.
Individually, the team has four separate players who are averaging double digit scoring with each of them having seen action in every game this season. Ty Allred leads the team with 14.3 points per game while being joined by the trio of Will Mortimore (10.7 ppg), Harvey White (10.5 ppg) and Yaak Yaak (10.4 ppg).
Mortimore is the team's leader in rebounds grabbing 6.9 per game with both Allred and Yaak each grabbing 6.2 per to tie for second on the team.
White has amassed 77 assists this season as the team's leader. Yaak is also the team and conference leader in blocks with 46.
ABOUT WESTMINSTER
Going into Thursday's game, the Griffins are 13-14 this season while sitting at 7-12 in the RMAC. With their most recent loss coming to Western Colorado on Tuesday in double overtime they are now eliminated from postseason play and will play their final game of the season against the Mavs on Thursday.
This week's game against Colorado Mesa will also serve as the second time that they have played the Mavs with last time ending in a Maverick victory in Brownson Arena on Jan. 18 by a score of 64-63.
Three different players average scoring in the double digits for the Griffins with Akena Simon leading the team at 13.5 points per game and both Chase Potter (13.4 ppg) and Donovan Avila (12.3 ppg) serving as the two others.
Overall, the Griffins are a top three shooting program in the conference as they are 48.8% from the field this season.
Thursday's game will serve as their senior night for their final home game of the season.
ABOUT WESTERN COLORADO
The Mountaineers enter this week with an 8-18 record while going 6-13 in RMAC play. They are currently out of contention for postseason play and as a result, Saturday's game will be their last contest of the season.
In their most recent game, they defeated Westminster in a double overtime thriller on Tuesday night giving them a win in their last home game of the season.
This is the second time this season that both Colorado Mesa and Western Colorado will meet as well with last time ending in a buzzer beater winner for the Mavs as they defeated the Mountaineers in Gunnison 64-63 on Jan. 14.
Two different players average scoring in the double figures to lead the squad with Kade Juelfs leading the team at 12.8 points per game and Amar Rivers averaging 11.7 points per game. Jamel Hollins is the team's rebounding leader grabbing 6.1 boards per game which ranks him in the top 10 of the conference.
HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN
Streaming for all of this week's games will occur on the RMAC Network free of charge with live stats to follow along with. Listening for Thursday's game be found on THE TEAM 1340 AM with Saturday's game being found at KNZZ 1100 AM. Tickets can be purchased in person or online at cmumavericks.com/tickets
