Tommy Nuno had his season-high with 36 points in the first weekend of 2020 despite the Mavericks starting the new year off 0-2.
Nuno scored 18 points through 10 minutes in the second game of the weekend against South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSMT). In both of Colorado Mesa University’s (CMU) losses, they turned the ball over 15 or more times and allowed 18 or more points off turnovers.
The second game of the weekend was against Black Hills State University (BHSU) as it was the most dramatic as it went into overtime due to Georgie Dancer being the second-leading scorer for the Mavericks with 14 points as he tried to keep the Mavericks on top to win the game.
The Mavericks were trying to take the momentum early, but the Yellow Jackets were throwing everything they had at Nuno and the Mavericks as both teams were trading punches early in the game. CMU fought hard against the Yellow Jackets in the first half as they held a one-point lead going into the final half of the game.
The second half matched the intensity of the first half, but BHSU was trying to take the momentum and go on a big run. In the final five minutes of the game, both teams were trading baskets back-and-forth as they tried to put the nail in the coffin, but with 1:21 left in the game, the Yellow Jackets found themselves down three-points after Nuno’s good jumper. BHSU’s effort never faltered as they tied the game up with four seconds left to send the game into overtime with the score tied 68-68.
In overtime, the Mavericks offense sputtered as they weren’t in the same rhythm as the Yellow Jackets who shot 85.71 percent from the field in overtime. The Yellow Jackets hot shooting propelled them to an 87-79 win over the Mavericks.
The first game of the weekend was against South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSMT), and the Mavericks struggled to shoot the ball from behind the arc as they shot 28.6 percent. Despite the tough shooting day from deep, the Mavericks top three scorers looked like they hadn’t skipped a beat despite not playing a game together since Dec. 20, as Nuno, Dancer and Michael Skinner all had double-digit scoring performances.
Through the first ten minutes of the first half, the Mavericks held a four-point lead over the Hardrockers. SDSMT wouldn’t go away though as they clawed their way back into the game and take the lead a big 15-point lead going into the half, as they completely shifted the game on its head.
CMU clawed their way back into the game as they got the score within one point, but the Hardrockers stayed aggressive against the Mavericks and got the lead back up to nine points to win the game.
SDSMT scored eight more fastbreak points than the Mavericks as they were able to get out in transition and convert through contact against CMU.
CMU’s next game is January 10 at 7:30 p.m. against New Mexico Highlands University as they start a four-game homestand.
