LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The Regis University men's basketball team (7-10, 5-6 RMAC) finished their New Mexico road trip with a visit to New Mexico Highlands (10-7, 9-2 RMAC) and lost 78-89 to the conference leading Cowboys. 

Regis jumped out to a quick 8-3 lead on a layup from sophomore Dexter Sienko, and two three-point jumpers from freshman Ryan Beisty. The rest of the first half saw both teams launching shots from beyond the arc and making a majority of them. Four separate Rangers hit three-pointers in the first half including four from Beisty, three from senior Billy Hansen, and one apiece from senior Dylan King and freshman Jarrett Brodbeck.

Despite RU making nine shots from beyond the arc, NMHU knocked down ten of their own, which brought them back into the game. Kendrick Nichols scored 17 points in the opening half of play, knocking down 5-10 shots from three-point land, putting the Cowboys ahead by nine points at the end of the half, 40-49.

Nichols and his teammates continued their hot shooting from deep as they came out of halftime to knock down three quick trifectas to extend their lead to 11 points, seven minutes into the second half. Brodbeck began to hit his stride from deep as he knocked down two quick threes to bring Regis within five points.

Five minutes later, the Rangers cut the lead to five, 64-69, after Sienko knocked down a free throw. A couple missed shots from RU led to opportunities for NMHU and they converted their chances. The Cowboys once extended their lead once again, 87-72, with only two minutes remaining in the game. NMHU would fend off Regis' attempts at a comeback and the game ended with the Rangers taking the loss, 78-89. 

As a team, RU struggled to get many of their shots to fall connecting on only 36.4 percent of their attempts. Regis was able to knock down 15-38 shots from the three-point line while the Cowboys made 16-34 shots from deep. The Rangers were narrowly outrebounded by NMHU 40-37. Despite turning the ball over only ten times, RU gave up 23 points off those turnovers. Brodbeck and Beisty both scored 20 points to lead all Regis players with Sienko chipping in 17. Beisty earned a double-double as he collected a game-high 11 rebounds.

The men's basketball team will return home to play their next two games. The first game will be on Friday, January 22 at 7 p.m. against Colorado Mesa University (10-6, 6-4 RMAC). The following night, Saturday, January 23 the Rangers will play Westminster College (8-6, 4-6 RMAC) at 7 p.m.