The Mavericks clinched an automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals with a win over the Orediggers in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Tournament Championship.
The Mavericks led the Colorado School of Mines (CSM) for 39 minutes and 22 seconds of the game-winning 69-61 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Tournament Championship.
Colorado Mesa University (CMU) had three players with double-digit scoring with each scoring 18 or more points. Senior guard Tommy Nuno recorded his fourth double-double this season scoring 18 points along with 15 rebounds. Nuno was named the RMAC Tournament Most Valuable Player scoring 41 points and grabbing 30 rebounds through three games.
The Mavericks were very selective with their shots from behind the arc as they took six shots from three-point land. CMU got into the lane time and time again tonight scoring 42 of their 69 points in the paint.
CSM led once in the game, taking the lead with 1:09 left in the game behind Brendan Sullivan’s three-point play. Junior guard Georgie Dancer answered with a three-pointer of his own to give the Mavericks a two-point lead.
CMU went nine of ten from the free-throw line in the final 41 seconds of the game to seal the victory. The Mavericks shot 57.1 from the floor and 80 percent from the free-throw line in the second half.
The Mavericks jumped out to a 32-21 lead at halftime with Nuno leading the charge with 10 points and seven rebounds. CMU took their largest lead of 11 into halftime, and the Mavericks kept their lead above five points until there was 8:36 left in the game.
The Orediggers outscored the Mavericks in the second half 40-37, but their low scoring first half cost them in the end.
Senior guard Michael Skinner led the Mavericks in the second half with 13 points and five rebounds. Skinner finished the game leading all scorers with 19 points shooting seven of ten while adding seven rebounds.
Junior center Ethan Richardson scored 10 of his 18 points in the second half as he controlled the paint the entire game.
The Maverick’s next game will be in the NCAA South Central Regionals starting Mar. 14-17. CMU’s matchup is to be determined with the Lone Star Conference Championship being played Mar. 8 at 3 P.M. with St. Edwards University going up against West Texas A&M.
