The Mavericks win their tenth game in a row dating back to last year as senior guard Georgie Dancer had a game-high 21 points.
Dancer was three of seven from behind the arc and he made eight free throws in the game. He was the only Maverick to score in double figures against the University Colorado-Colorado Springs (UCCS) in their 60-56 win.
“I had a really good week of practice, that extra week of practice let me get back into a rhythm since I missed those first two games. So, I just had to get my rhythm back and slow down, and I feel like I did that tonight,” Dancer said.
Colorado Mesa University (CMU) and UCCS traded shots the entire game as there were 17 lead changes and nine ties in the contest.
The Mountain Lions got on the board first, but neither team was able to build a lead larger than three points in the first ten minutes of the game.
Freshman guard Blaise Threatt made his first collegiate basket with 9:45 left in the first half to put CMU up by five points.
The Maverick’s biggest scoring run was nine points, and it gave them their largest lead of the half which was seven points. The Mountain Lions cut the lead back down and with their biggest scoring run of the half, they took the lead with 5:05 left in the half.
Neither team was able to gain clear control as the first half finished tied at 30 points. There were 11 lead changes and six ties in the half.
Dancer led CMU in scoring as he had 11 points in the first half. Threatt was the second-leading scorer for the Mavericks with seven points.
“It was a little bit of frustrating game just because I didn’t think we were as sharp at either end particularly in that first half as we’ve been in practice. I felt like we had taken a step forward since the first semester as we have been in practice, and we kind of took a step back from that tonight,” Head Coach Mike DeGeorge said.
The Mountain Lions scored first again in the second half, but like the first half, the Mavericks quickly tied the game back up. This trend continued for the second half as both teams battled for the momentum.
CMU held the lead for 12:35 in the second half as they shot 41.7 percent from the floor. UCCS struggled from the floor in the closing half, as they shot 27.6 percent from the floor.
The Maverick’s eight to four run in the final six minutes of the game helped them win 60-56.
Freshman guard Reece Johnson and Threatt were the second leading scorers for CMU as each had nine points in the game. The pair added five rebounds in the Mavericks win.
“I feel like CMU is the perfect place for me to come because as soon as I came on my visit, coach said our team is based around screen and roll, and I think that’s what I thrive best in is coming off screens, making passes and making plays. So, I feel like it’s a good system for me to run in,” Threatt said.
The Mountain Lions outrebounded the Mavericks 45 to 31 in the game.
CMU’s next game is Friday, Jan. 15 at 7:30 p.m. against Metro State University-Denver in Denver, Colo.
