Tommy Nuno recorded the first triple-double in school history and with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists to bounce back in 2020.
Nuno’s triple-double is only the sixth of the entire season in D2 basketball. The Mavericks got back into the win column against New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) against two of the top three scorers in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). Colorado Mesa University (CMU) had five players in double-figure scoring with their newest addition center Ethan Richardson scored 12 points in his first game with his new team.
“Having [Richardson], it just opens everything up, having a big that you can throw it into and get a bucket. He sets good screens, rolls and rebounds, he does all the little things and all the big things. It is so nice having him, it just makes my job so much easier,” Nuno said.
Sam Barnes-Thompkins and Raquan Mitchell accounted for 48 of the 79 points for the Cowboys as the two top scorers in the RMAC hit tough shot after tough shot, but neither of them shot above 35 percent from the floor.
“We always want to be the more physical team, … the tendency of [No.] 0 and [No.] 55 is to give them a cushion to manage and control them but that is really what they want, they really want space to get their jump shot off, taking it to the basket is plan b for them which they are both really capable of,” Coach Mike DeGeorge said.
The first half was a battle for the momentum as both teams were trying to establish themselves as the more physical team in the first ten minutes, but when Richardson came into the game the Cowboys focused on the big man which allowed the Maverick guards to get into the paint at will. The momentum swung completely to the Mavericks side as Nuno hit an off-balance buzzer-beater three over two Cowboys to end the first half.
The second half was Nuno’s half as he scored 13 points and added nine assists and five rebounds for his triple-double to help the Mavericks build a double-digit lead. Michael Skinner’s effort and pace in the second half propelled him to score 15 of his 19 points to give the Mavericks another option to dominate the Cowboys in the paint.
“We needed to respond, if we didn’t have good energy tonight, I think that would be a real sign of our character, but I think the way we responded is a sign of just how good of character this group has,” DeGeorge said. “The other thing is to, you bring a guy in at the semester, it can be a distraction to the group and I’m just really proud of not only the response to last weekend but also the addition and just being accepting of Ethan, he is a great teammate and he is going to fit in well with our group.”
CMU scored 52 points in the paint compared to NMHU 24 points in the paint, as the Mavericks forced the Cowboys to take tough jump shots the entire game.
The Maverick’s next game will be Jan. 11 against Colorado State University-Pueblo at 7:30 p.m. in Brownson Arena.
