Basketball is back in Grand Junction, as Colorado Mesa University (CMU) hosted another regular season event, this one being the Holiday Inn – Airport Thanksgiving Classic. The nationally ranked CMU men’s team put on a show, going 2-0 on the weekend.
Last weekend, the group traveled to Texas to take on two Lone Star Conference opponents, Texas A&M University – Kingsville (TAMUK), and Texas A&M International University (TAMUI). The Mavericks defeated TAMUK the first night, and lost to TAMUI the following night. With the loss, the Mavericks moved to 3-1, but cracked the top 25 national rankings, sitting at number 24.
On night one of the event, CMU played Northern New Mexico University (NNMU). NNMU came out the gates fast, jumping out to an 8-2 lead. However, that was the only lead they held, as CMU stormed back with a 21-2 scoring run and built a quick 13-point lead.
The scoring run was fueled by freshman guard Elijah Knudsen. Knudsen had played sparingly in the Mavs’ first few games, but CMU head coach Mike DeGeorge let the freshman off the leash this game. Knudsen started his night with a pocket pass assist, then going on to scorch the NMMU defense, going 5/5 from three in the first half.
“Tonight, it felt great to get back on the court. I had the confidence, because the whole team brought me in when I got here, and have taken care of me. I feel like I’m at home with these guys, I’m able to play free and be myself,” Knudsen said.
At 5’10, Knudsen is usually the smallest guy on the floor. With his size disadvantage, Knudson makes up for it by competing his hardest on the defensive end and using his elite quickness on offense.
“In the first couple of weeks, [Knudsen] was trying to defer too much, and he didn’t understand our defense. But, slowly, he’s started to figure out all those pieces. He just started making his way into the rotation and I had a sense he would have a big night,” DeGeorge said.
The Mavericks cruised into the second half, dominating NNMU in pretty much every statistical category. CMU ultimately won 99-75, with 14 different Mavericks scoring on the night.
The second night, the Mavericks drew a tougher opponent in Simon Fraser University (SFU). SFU is the only member of the NCAA from Canada, and entered the night with a 3-1 record.
CMU started the night with a pair of three-pointers to give them a 6-0 lead. After the pair of threes, the Mavericks never looked back and led end-to-end to beat SFU 77-62. Even though the Mavericks were slightly undersized, the group battled and dominated inside against the taller SFU frontcourt. CMU out-rebounded SFU on the offensive boards 17-5, and 43-24 in total rebounds.
“We talked about ways we can utilize our quickness advantage, versus their size advantage, and how that would show up in offensive rebounding. We haven’t been a good enough offensive rebounding team, so to grab nearly 50% of our offensive rebounds is awesome,” DeGeorge said.
In addition to dominating on the boards, CMU also put on a free throw clinic, shooting 23/25 from the line. Redshirt sophomore Blaise Threatt led the free throw attack, shooting a perfect 10/10. Threatt also added 17 points, 10 rebounds and four steals.
While the Mavericks showcased they can win in different ways this weekend, they relied on their star to lead them in both games. Redshirt sophomore Trevor Baskin is looking like a potential All-American in his third season with the program. This weekend, Baskin did it all again. The forward averaged 19.5 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in the two games, and did all of this on an efficient 14/20 shooting, including 2/2 from three-point land.
“I never want to be the guy who has to shoot 30 times to score 30 points. [But], there were times, at the end of the game, where I got it at the free throw line and I knew that I could beat my guy one-on-one. The defense had to respect our shooters in the corners, and respect that we are all capable shooters, so that gives me good space,” Baskin said.
CMU finishes their non-conference portion of the schedule, posting a 5-1 record. The Mavericks open their conference schedule with a meeting against Colorado School of Mines, who are currently ranked 13 in the country. The game will take place at Brownson Arena, Friday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m.
