The Mavericks had three different players score in double figures in their 78-67 victory over Colorado Christian University (CCU).
Sophomore forward Ethan Menzies nearly posted a double-double as he finished with 17 points and nine rebounds in the game. Senior guard Georgie Dancer tied Menzies as the Mavericks leading scorer tonight, finishing with 17 points on four of eight shooting.
Neither team scored in the opening two and a half minutes until Dancer gave the Mavericks their first two points. Colorado Mesa University (CMU) had built a 15-5 lead six minutes later.
The Cougars offense sprang into action tying the game with 8:03 left in the half and took the lead with 7:19 left in the half. CMU made four straight three-pointers to help them take the lead with three minutes left in the first half.
Ethan Menzies attempts a layup in the Maverick’s first matchup of the season against CCU. | Mikayla Olave for The Criterion
The Mavericks finished the half with a 38-33 lead as they shot 50 percent from the floor. Dancer led the Mavericks in scoring in the first half with 12 points and shooting three of five from the floor.
Menzies help to control the glass for CMU as he pulled down seven rebounds in the first half. He helped give the Mavericks an 18 to seven edge on the glass in the half.
CCU got on the board first in the second half, but CMU answered immediately and built an 11-point lead in the opening two minutes. The Cougars cut the lead down to three points three minutes later as the back-and-forth style of the game continued.
Dancer gave the Mavericks an 11-point lead with 6:34 left in the game as he got into the paint and converted the layup. CCU answered with five-points of their own to cut the Mavericks lead to six points.
Senior guard Jared Small hit a three to push CMU’s lead back to nine points with 4:43 left in the game.
CCU was unable to cut CMU’s lead to seven points in the final four minutes of the game. Each time the Cougars scored, the Mavericks were able to get into the paint to convert the layup or draw a foul.
CMU went 10 for 10 from the free-throw line in the closing four minutes of the game which proved to be the dagger.
Menzies scored 12 of his 17 points and shot 100 percent from the floor and the free-throw line in the second half.
Redshirt freshman Mac Riniker was the Mavericks third-leading scorer with 13 points and he pulled down four rebounds in the contest.
The Maverick’s next game is Friday, Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m. against Colorado School of Mines in Brownson Arena.
