GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. Western Colorado’s played a scrappy first half in Saturday evening’s Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference men’s basketball game at Colorado Mesa University, but the host Mavericks were able to overcome a halftime deficit in rallying for an 81-72 win over the Mountaineers.
Western came back from a 10-point deficit midway through the first half and eventually took a 32-31 lead into the halftime break. Mesa scored the opening bucket in the second half, though, and never trailed again.
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Colorado Mesa def. Western Colorado, 81-72
Records: Western Colorado 5-14 (4-9 RMAC), Colorado Mesa 16-8 (10-5)
Location: Brownson Arena; Grand Junction, Colo.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Avery Rembao’s 3-pointer after the opening tip provided Western with an early lead, but by the 9:51 mark of the period it was the Mavericks that were turning it on, settling into a 10-point lead at 25-15.
- Western didn’t fold, however. Elijah Davidson hit a soft jumper from in close to start a rally that would push the Mountaineers in front.
- A Mesa turnover on its next possession became a close-in jumper by Matthew Ragsdale, followed by another Maverick turnover and another short jumper from Ragsdale.
- Davidson pulled down a defensive rebound next, and once again Ragsdale hit from in close, pulling Western to within one basket.
- Both teams experienced a scoring drought over the next four minutes, keeping the game close until a defensive rebound by Rembao at one end became a tying basket from Davidson at the other end at the 3:41 mark.
- A Davidson steal 20 seconds later led to a layup by Gino Corridori that lifted Western in front, 27-25.
- Mesa inched back in front nearing the final minute of the half, only to have Ragsdale snare a defensive rebound in the final seconds before dropping in a 3-pointer to beat the buzzer and give Western back the lead, 32-31, heading into recess.
- Mesa stormed out of the break, scored the opening basket to retake the lead, then built up a lead that grew to as many as 16 points during second-half action.
- Western would pull within seven points, twice, in the final minute, but this time the deficit was too large and the Mountaineers ran out of time.
COURT NOTES
- Both teams took nearly the same number of shots in the game (61 by Western and 62 by Mesa), but Mesa’s 58 percent second half – compared to 39 percent by the Mountaineers – was a deciding factor in the outcome.
- Ragsdale paced Western with 20 points, getting assistance from Davidson (13 points), Will Willis (12), Jaelan McCloud (11) and Rembao (10) who all reached double figures in scoring during the loss.
- Davidson pulled down nine rebounds to lead Western, trailing only Mesa’s Trevor Baskin who finished with 13.
- Baskin scored 21 points for Mesa to complete the double-double and lead the Mavericks in the win.
UP NEXT
- Western will travel to Lakewood, Colo., for its next game, an RMAC contest Tuesday at 7 p.m. against host Colorado Christian University.
- Mesa heads to Salt Lake City on Tuesday for a conference game against host Westminster College.
