WNMU couldn't have asked for a much tougher opponent to start the RMAC season than Colorado School of Mines. Mines was picked to finish second in the conference and had been ranked as high as #13 in the national polls. It was a tough game but Western dominated play in the second half on both ends of the floor to cruise to a 77-66 victory.
Early on the teams went back and forth as WNMU got the first bucket but Mines answered quickly and started to build a lead which would reach 5 points at the six minute mark of the first half. WNMU would answer as Juan Suarez got a bucket and a foul shot to pull back into a tie. That set the tone for most of the first half; Mines would get ahead by a few points and WNMU would pull back with good defense and by converting 10-13 free throw attempts in the first half.
With about 4 minutes to go in the half, the Mustangs started to swing momentum to their side. Darryl Littleton got a block starting a fast break for the home team which ended in Suarez being fouled and hitting both shots from the charity stripe. After another stop by the Mustang defense, Brelan Berry got the ball inside the lane and was fouled hitting 1 of his 2 attempts from the line. Chad Carter followed up with a slam dunk off of an alley oop pass from Saurez, then a Berry tip in on a missed shot and Ryan Crane nailed a three to help Western build a 5 point lead going into half time, 37-32.
The momentum continued in the second half with berry tallying a layup and a slam dunk off of a fast break to build the home team's lead to 9 at 41-32. CSM would get a free throw and then Suarez took control hitting a layup, two free throws and a three point bomb in the next 3 Mustang possessions to build the lead to 15, 48-33 just four minutes into the second half. The Mustang defense continued to frustrate the Orediggers causing them to shoot poorly and commit turnovers. A turnaround jumper by Littleton gave the Stangs an 18 point lead with 8:51 to go in the game.
But Mines was not about to go away quietly. The Orediggers switched up their defense going to a 1-3-1 trapping zone that caused the Mustangs some problems. Brian Muller began to hit from long range and Mines cut the lead to 9, 73-64 with two minutes to play. But Coach Mark Coleman watched as several players hit key shots down the stretch and grabbed several important rebounds to limit Mines' shot attempts.
Suarez paced the Mustangs with 23 points just missing out on a double-double dishing out 9 assists. Both were game highs. Berry did post a double-double with 13 points to go along with a game high 13 rebounds as well. Merle 'Te' Branch added 12 points and Chad Carter posted 11 . Western's defense created 15 turnovers, 5 steals and 6 blocked shots while the Mustangs only turned the ball over 2 times themselves. WNMU shot 58% from the floor in the second half, 45% for the night while holding mines to just 26% shooting in the second stanza from downtown; Mines had been hitting the long shots at a 38% clip on the season. They also held Trevor Wages, current RMAC Player of the Week to just 5 points and 8 rebounds.
WNMU will have a quick turnaround as they host Colorado Christian tonight at 7:30 p.m. on Drag's Court. Christian lost a close game to NM Highlands 87-81 last night. The win improves WNMU's record to 2-3 and 1-0 in conference play. The game can be heard beginning at 7 p.m. on 92.9 FM KSCQ.
Mustangs Ride Strong Second Half to Victory
- Category: Sports
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