The Mavericks struggled against the Orediggers as they fell 58-68 and they shot just 37.3% from the field in the game.
Colorado Mesa University (CMU) shot 33.3% from beyond the three-point arc in the rematch of last year’s Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championship. Colorado School of Mines (CSM) shot an even 50% from the field and they shot 38 points in the paint against the Mavericks.
Redshirt senior guard Georgie Dancer led the Mavericks in scoring with 16 points and he shot five of eight from the floor. He pulled down five rebounds and dished out two assists in the game.
The first half opened with a flurry of baskets from both teams, and the Orediggers took a 6-4 lead with 17:24 left in the first half. They built a six-point lead in the opening five minutes of the half.
CMU went on an eight to two-run to tie the game at 12 and redshirt senior guard Jared Small was the one to tie it as he hit a three-pointer with 13:01 left in the half. The Orediggers were able to hold onto their lead and they extended the lead to 22-14 with 10:05 left in the first half.
The Orediggers built a 12-point lead with 7:17 left in the first half. Two minutes later, the Maverick’s offense burst into action. Small hit two three-pointers and Dancer hit two shots from the free-throw line to cut CSM’s lead down to four points with 4:13 left in the first half.
Dancer tied the game up at 30 with 1:09 left in the first half as he got into the paint to finish through contact and draw a foul. He gave CMU a one-point lead as he completed the three-point play at the free-throw line.
Ben Boone took the lead back for CSM as he hit a jumper with 37 seconds left in the game. Redshirt freshman guard Isaac Jessup ended the first half strong as he nailed a three-pointer with five seconds left to give CMU a 34-32 lead going into the break.
The Orediggers opened the second half on an 11 to nothing run which gave them a 43-34 lead with 15:45 left in the game. Redshirt freshman guard Mac Riniker tried to give the Mavericks some momentum as he stole the ball from Boone, raced down the court and finished at the rim to bring CMU within seven points.
CSM’s offense didn’t skip a beat as they lifted their lead up to 50-36 with 12:06 left in the game. Redshirt freshman guard Blaise Threatt cut the lead down to 10 points as he converted a layup on the fast break.
Riniker cut the lead to nine points as he hit a three-pointer with 8:58 left in the game. The Orediggers lifted their lead back up to 12-points two minutes later, but the Mavericks weren’t done just yet.
CMU went on a six-point mini-run to cut the Orediggers lead down to 52-58 with 4:54 left in the game. Kai Barr lifted the Orediggers lead up to nine points three minutes later.
Small worked quickly for the Mavericks as he carved into the paint to finish through contact and went to the line. Small completed the three-point play at the free-throw line. Small cut the lead down to six points with 1:18 left in the game.
The Mavericks were forced to foul and CSM went six for eight from the line to end the game with a 68-58 lead.
Small was the Maverick’s second-leading scorer with 14 points in the game, and he pulled down six rebounds as well. Threatt was the Maverick’s third and final player that finished in double figures with 10 points and he shot three of six in the game.
CMU scored 26 points in the paint and 17 points off turnovers against the Orediggers.
The Maverick’s next game is Saturday, Jan. 22 at 6:00 p.m. against the Regis Rangers in Denver, Colo.
