GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Regis University Men's Basketball team earned their ninth straight victory on Saturday afternoon, topping Colorado Mesa University, 73-74. The Rangers improve to 14-8 (12-2 RMAC), while the Mavericks fall to 13-9 (7-7 RMAC).
HOW IT HAPPENED
Jalen Page's block would lead to fastbreak free throws form Chase Mayo Harmon for the first points of the game, then Ty Cox and Quinn Lambert each scored in the paint to go up, 8-4. Kobe Sanders and Eddy Egun both hit triples, and Mayo Harmon added a three of his own, but the Mavericks still took a 12-19 lead. Mayo Harmon scored five straight to take back the lead, but even after Sanders found Egun for a three-pointer, CMU led 33-29 going into the break.
The Rangers came out of halftime hot, as Egun hit a three, stole the ball for a fastbreak layup, and found Cox for a layup and a 39-35 lead. Mayo Harmon nailed another triple, and set up Egun's fastbreak layup to push the score to 44-38. Trey Bryant scored, then assisted a Mayo Harmon layup, and the teams began to trade buckets, including layups from Jalen Brown and Page. However, after Mayo Harmon put the Rangers up 12 with 1:27 left, the Mavericks had one last push, hitting threes and free throws to close the deficit to just two. Mayo Harmon and Bryant had free throws late to make it 74-70, and Mesa hit a final three to bring the game within one, but the rally ended just short, with Regis victorious.
"Our group did a great job of refocusing at half time," said Head Coach Brady Bergeson. "We executed better offensively and did a better job with our defensive game plan. We were able to control most of the second half until the last 30 seconds. We have some lessons to learn still on closing games. But we will take this outcome and try to keep getting better."
GAME NOTES
· Mayo Harmon led all players with 22 points and six rebounds
· Egun added 19 points, and Sanders scored 15
· Ty Allred led the Mavericks with 20 points
· Cox recorded five rebounds, one steal, and one block
· The rangers shot better on all three level, 50% - 45% from the floor, 44% - 35% from deep, and 85% - 76% from the line.
UP NEXT
The Rangers return to action on Thursday, Feb 13, hosting South Dakota Mines at 7 pm.
