Sports Reporter
ksparkhu@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
Veterans’ Day Weekend means two things: the paying of respects to those who have served our country and the start of college basketball.
After a few exhibition games, the Mavericks were primed and ready to take on some real competition.
The Mavs played in the Dixie State College Classic in St. George, Utah last weekend. The team split its two games with an 82-81 overtime win to set up the game against Dixie State, which they lost 77-65.
First up was Fresno Pacific and its point guard John Taylor, who was the National JuCo Player of the Year in 2011 at Mott Community College.
“(John) Taylor is a really great player,” point guard Daniel Estes said. “We knew we had to just try to contain him and not let him beat us.”
The first half ended with the Mavs ahead 37-26 off of 10 points from guard Mike Melillo, and nine more from guard Landon Vermeer, who was 3-3 from behind the arc.
Fresno Pacific outscored the Mavericks 49-38 in the second half to erase a deficit that had reached 16 at one point. The hard fought battle on the hardwood was not settled in regulation and the Mavericks’ first game headed into overtime.
After clutch shots from senior forward Jeff Hart and Vermeer, the game was tied 81-81 late in O.T., and Colton Burgon went to the line with two free throws. He made one out of the two to take the one-point lead with 30 seconds left. After a missed shot by Fresno Pacific and a rebound by guard Kevin Screen, the game was clinched for the Mavs, 82-81.
Fresno Pacific’s John Taylor led all scorers with 34 points.
“When we went into overtime, I felt like we were playing well enough as a team to get this win,” Estes said. “We made some huge shots and really did well capitalizing on our free throws. It definitely shows our team’s mental toughness and character that will help out a lot later on in the season.”
The Mavs had some impressive play by their shooting guards Melillo (19 points and 11 rebounds) and Vermeer, who shot a lights-out 7-8 from the field, and 3-4 from behind the arc. They were complimented by tough play down low from Colton Burgon who recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
After the victory on Friday, the Mavericks aimed their sights on host team Dixie State in the Dixie State Classic Championship on Saturday.
The game was a back-and-forth affair that saw numerous lead changes and momentum swings. However, Dixie State went on a 14-0 run midway through the second half to take the win and the championship, 77-65.
Mike Melillo led the Mavs, racking up another 19 points, while point guard Daniel Estes tallied 10 points and five assists.
The Mavericks now sit at an even 1-1 and will continue their season Nov. 23 with their home opener in the Clarion Inn Thanksgiving Classic in Brownson Arena.
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