SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University basketball teams return home against their in-state rival New Mexico Highlands this Saturday.


On the men's side, it will be a pivotal matchup, with the teams separated by just one game in the conference standings, as the Cowboys are 6-6 in RMAC play, 8-8 overall, while WNMU comes in with a 5-7 conference mark and 5-11 overall record.


The Mustangs still have one team between them and NMHU, as CSU-Pueblo holds a 5-6 conference mark, but will make-up the game in hand with a game Friday night. The five through ten ranked teams in the conference are separated by just a win, with three teams (Colorado Mesa, Fort Lewis and UCCS) all 6-5, followed by NMHU, CSU-Pueblo and then WNMU. The top four teams host first round games on campus to open the RMAC Shootout.


WNMU split with the Cowboys last year, with both teams winning on their home courts. In Silver City a year ago, WNMU won, 93-83, while NMHU won in Vegas, 115-99.


The men will look to snap a two-game slide and continue their strong play at home, having won three of their last four, with that only loss coming by a point to Colorado Mines.


TJ Riley (Tyler, TX/Chapel Hill High School) remains one of the top threats offensively in the conference, posting 17.3 points per game, 4.6 rebounds, 33 steals and three blocks in starting every game this year. Chad Carter (Tucson, AZ/Ironwood Ridge High School) is also in double-figures adding another 14.3 per contest, while leading the team in rebounding at 6.3 game and blocks with 26.
WNMU shoots just under 42 percent per game, making 383-of-920 shots. Opponents are just a shade under 45 percent (44.9).


NMHU also struggled on the trip up to Nebraska, dropping both games after winning three-straight at home.


Three Cowboys lead the team in scoring, with Marcus Williams tallying 16.6 per game, followed by 13.9 from Momcilo Latinovic and another 10.6 from Billy Austin. The Cowboys are a solid shooting team, hitting at an over 46 percent clip (46.1), while opponents are hitting at a 43 percent clip.


On the women's side, the Mustangs came close last time out, but are still in search of their first win of the season (0-15, 0-12 RMAC). Last season, WNMU came close to defeating the Cowgirls in Silver City on the last game of the season, 57-54, after NMHU took to earlier meeting in Vegas, 85-67.


Kassie Scott (El Paso, TX/Coronado High School) leads the Mustang attack pouring in 11.1 points per game, while pulling down 3.1 rebounds, 13 steals and one block. Morgan Wohltman (Queen Creek, AZ/Highland High School) is also in double-digits with 10.4 per game. Heather Hamilton (Ely, NV/White Pine High School) leads the team in rebounding, collecting 5.3 boards, while chipping in 7.9 points per contest.


NMHU sits at 4-8 in the conference and 8-8 overall, but just a victory out of tying for the last spot in the conference tournament. The Cowgirls have dropped two straight, having come close against Chadron State, before falling by four, 64-60, and then lost last time out against Nebraska-Kearney, 65-57.


Alyssa Lopez powers the offense scoring 17.4 points per game, while Whitley Coca adds 11.7, followed by China Smith's 10.8 per contest.


The Cowgirls shoot about the same from the field as they allow their opponents to shoot, hitting at just over 40 percent (40.4), while opponents are just above 41 percent (41.2).


WNMU and NMHU will tipoff at 4 p.m. with the women's game, followed by the men at 6 p.m. Saturday evening inside Drag's Court.