Box Score DENVER, Colo. – The No. 2 ranked Metro State University Denver Roadrunners proved to be worthy of their ranking as they defeated the Western New Mexico University men's basketball team, 92-61, Saturday night in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


Western New Mexico University (WNMU) tallied their first points over a minute in on a layup from Lucio Luttrell (Las Cruces, NM/Las Cruces High School) that left Metro State University Denver (MSUD) ahead by one, 3-2. Later, Chad Carter (Tucson, AZ/Ironwood Ridge High School) helped pull WNMU (4-8, 3-5 RMAC) back within three with a jumper at the 17:30 mark.


MSUD (11-0, 7-0 RMAC) would push the lead to 11, 18-7, over the next three minutes. The Mustangs would cut the deficit under 10 a couple of times, with the last coming at the 14:37 mark after Juan Suarez (Nogales, AZ/Nogales High School) hit a pair from the free throw line leaving the Roadrunners ahead, 19-11.


MSUD kept the pressure up and took a 55-26 lead into the locker room.


WNMU put together a 7-0 run near the midway point of the second half with Luttrell connecting on a three, which Merle Branch (Sierra Vista, AZ/Buena High School) added to that with a layup and then a jumper.


Branch ended up leading the Mustangs with 12, followed by 11 from Chad Arechiga (Tucson, AZ/Ironwood Ridge).


Brandon Jefferson led MSUD and all-scorers with 20.


MSUD shot 50.7 percent (36-71) from the field, while WNMU made 20-of-53 (37.7). WNMU held a 10-5 advantage in made three-pointers, while the Roadrunners made four more free throws (15-11).


WNMU will remain on the road next Friday when they will travel to Alamosa, Colo., to battle Adams State University beginning at 8:00 p.m.