The Mavericks finish their road trip 2-0 as they picked up a 76-67 win over Colorado State University-Pueblo.
The 17 nationally-ranked Colorado Mesa University (CMU) never trailed in the game as they finished the game shooting 55.1 percent from the floor. The Mavericks scored 46 points in the paint as they got into the paint at will against the Thunderwolves.
Freshman guard Christopher Speller scored a career-high 29 points through 37 minutes of play. Speller shot nine for 12 from the floor and he contributed six rebounds along with four steals against the Thunderwolves.
Redshirt freshman guard Mac Riniker registered a career-high 14 rebounds, and he was one point shy from recording a double-double.
CMU scored the first two baskets in the game before Colorado State University-Pueblo (CSUP) got on the board. The Mavericks built an eight-point lead in the opening five minutes before the Thunderwolves trimmed it back down to one-point.
CSUP was able to tie the game up four times in the final seven minutes of the first half, but they were never able to take the lead. The fourth time the Thunderwolves tied the game was with 1:12 left in the first half.
Redshirt freshman forward Michael McCurry put the Mavericks back up on top, and Speller made a layup to give them a four-point lead. CSUP’s Tre Brown got fouled late in the first half and made one of two free throws to bring them within three points.
Speller scored 14 points in the first half as he led the Mavericks in scoring, shooting six of seven from the floor.
CMU shot 55.1 percent from the floor in the second half which allowed them to create some separation to win the game.
The Mavericks again scored the first two baskets of the second half, and they were able to build a ten-point lead within the opening four minutes. The Thunderwolves were able to cut into CMU’s lead as they got it down to one-point with 4:02 left in the game.
Speller scored seven unanswered points to push the Mavericks lead back up to eight points. He scored 11 of his 29 points in the final five minutes of the game as he was crucial in closing CSUP out in order to remain undefeated.
Freshman guard Reece Johnson was the second-leading scorer for CMU finishing with 10 points.
The Maverick’s next game is Monday, Jan. 4 at 7:30 p.m. against the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs in Brownson Arena.
