Sports Reporter
Photo by: Michael Wong
acastro@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
Hundreds of CMU students and fans dressed in white and poured into Brownson Arena last weekend to see the Men’s basketball team take on the Adams State Grizzlies and the Fort Lewis Skyhawks in the last two games of the regular season, which determined the Mavs’ seeding in the RMAC Shootout. The Mavs came up empty on both nights, losing 75-68 on Friday and 69-59 the following night, ending their regular season (17-9, 14-8 RMAC), and leaving them the number five seed.
“We just didn’t hit shots we usually hit,” sophomore guard Daniel Estes said. “They were two good teams.”
The Mavs led the Grizzlies by 18 points throughout the game before the Grizzlies took the lead with just under four minutes remaining in the second half. Senior Kaimyn Pruitt led the Grizzlies to victory with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Jeff Hart led the Mavs with 16 points while Mike Melillo added 12 points.
Saturday night’s game had a much different feel to it. The Mavs came out sluggish, and the Skyhawks, led by Alex Herrera and Marcus Ayala, proved too much to handle. The Mavs trailed 26-33 at halftime.
The Mavs showed a little spark in the second half as they tied the score at 33. Colton Burgon’s layup with 14 minutes remaining gave CMU its only lead of the night, putting them on top, 38-37. Burgon fouled out with seven minutes remaining.
Ayala and the Skyhawks responded to earn a 69-59 win and the right to home court advantage in the first round of the RMAC Shootout. This marked the No. 17 Skyhawks’ first win at Brownson Arena since 2006.
“Friday, we didn’t rebound and take care of the ball, and Saturday, we just couldn’t hit shots,” Hart said. “We had to make a few adjustments for Herrera, to try and make it more difficult for him to score under the rim. He’s a big body with great fundamentals.”
Saturday’s loss to the Skyhawks was the last regular season game that Colton and Chandler Burgon and Hart played as Mavericks. For Hart, the end of the regular season was a special time for him.
“It was fun, and we had a great crowd, and my whole family came in from Pittsburgh, so, regardless of the outcome, it was a special weekend,” said Hart. “I think the guys are going to step up for the RMAC tourney. We get to play Pueblo, and our style plays well against them. We have no choice but to win at this point. Otherwise our season is over.”
Although they are on a three game losing streak, the Mavs’ confidence has not been shaken.
“We know we are a good team and what we are capable of,” Estes said. “Our goal of winning the RMAC tournament is still attainable. We just need to win three in a row.”
The fifth-seeded Mavs will take on the No. 4 seed CSU-Pueblo Tuesday night in Pueblo.
“Our goal for the postseason is to win the next three games and win the RMAC Championship,” Colton said. “We won’t be training any differently. We just need to do what we have been doing all year as a team, and we need to play great defense and execute our offense, and if we do that, we can beat anyone.”
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