Denver, Colo.: The Regis University men's basketball team battled #6 Metro State early but turnovers proved to be the difference as the Roadrunners took down their cross-town rival 71-55.

Metro State (4-1) jumped out to an early 4-0 lead just under two minutes into the game prompting Regis (3-3) Head Coach Lonnie Porter to take a timeout.  The Rangers responded by scoring nine in a row over nearly four minutes to lead 9-4.

Senior Mike MacKelvie made a layup and then a free throw for a three-point play to give Regis their biggest lead of the game at 14-6 with 13:39 left in the first half.  Metro then went on an 11-2 run to take a 17-16 lead halfway through the opening stanza.  The Roadrunners kept turning the Rangers over, 15 to be exact in the first half, and two free throws by Jamal McClerkin put MSUD ahead 37-30 at the halftime break.

Jarrett Green and Bryan Siefker made back-to-back three pointers helping Regis to an 8-0 run to tie the score at 40 apiece.  That is when the defending RMAC Champions flexed their muscles and went on a 19-5 run to lead 59-45 with just under seven minutes left in the game.

The Rangers couldn't get any closer the rest of the way and Metro State won going away 71-55.

The Rangers had just four turnovers in the game but lost the battle 19-5.  The Rangers got the best of the Roadrunners on the boards out-rebounding them 34-29.  RU also shot better hitting 43.2 percent to 39.6 for MSUD.

Green led the way with 13 points, while Mike MacKelvie led the defense with seven rebounds, while supplying 10 points.  Kevin Marshall and Spenser Reeb both chipped in with nine points.  Marshall also grabbed five boards and dished out a team-high four assists.

Reeb joined Jon Conley with six boards apiece.

The Rangers will next host CSU-Pueblo on Friday, December 13th at 7:00 p.m.