Brownson Arena was packed Saturday night as the CMU men’s basketball squad (14-10, 12-8) faced off against RMAC rival Western State College.

The Mavs were out for revenge after a 58-57 loss to the Mountaineers earlier in the season. The Mavs won, 57-54.

Both teams struggled to start the game, going nearly 10 minutes without scoring. Jeff Hart broke the 3-3 tie with a layup, and CMU students threw rolls of toilet paper on the court, which gave the Mavs a technical foul. After the toilet paper was cleared from the floor, baskets began to fall for both teams. The Mavs and Mountaineers ended the half in a 22-22 tie.

Kevin Screen ended the first half with seven points. Shawn King and Michael Bear each added four points.

In the second half, the Mountaineers started the period with two threes, but the Mavs responded, building a 38-34 lead.

“Sooner or later, you got to step up and make some shots,” coach Jim Heaps said. “Those kids stepped up and made shots when we needed them.”

With the Mavs and Mountaineers trading baskets throughout the second half, the game boiled down to a 44-44 tie with 27 seconds left on the clock. Estes took the last shot for the Mavs, but missed over the backboard. Western threw a long ball down the court to attempt a buzzer-beater, but the pass was intercepted by Mike Melilo, sending the game into overtime.

In overtime, the Mavs built a lead on three baskets, but the Mountaineers scored five straight points to lead by one. With 1:30 left, Bear nailed two free throws, putting the Mavs up 53-52. It was Bear’s first game since missing six games with a high ankle sprain.

After a missed three pointer by Western, Kevin Screen hit a clutch jumper with less than 30 seconds left to put the Mavs up 55-52. The Mountaineers attempted another three on the following posession, bouncing of the rim. Nate Nelson reeled in the rebound and was immediately fouled. Nelson made both free throws, sealing a Maverick victory.

The Mavs went 13-19 from the line and shot 67 percent from the outside. Hart fouled out late, but led the Mavs with 13 points.

CMU pulled off the 57-54 thriller, on a night honoring Maverick seniors Blake Francom, Bear, and Nelson.

“Our seniors played a huge part just like they should every year,” Hart said. “We are a very tight-knit team, so it’ll be really hard to watch them go.”

The Mavs end the season with road matchups against Adams State and Fort Lewis.