Box Score


SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University men's basketball team fought back from a nine-point halftime deficit against New Mexico Highlands, but couldn't come all the way back as the Cowboys spoiled senior day with a 70-67 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory Saturday.


Chad Carter (Tucson, AZ/Ironwood Ridge High School) helped put Western New Mexico University (WNMU) ahead with a thunder dunk off an assist by Juan Suarez (Nogales, AZ/Nogales High School) at the 16:15 mark that gave WNMU (10-16, 9-13 RMAC) what would turn out to be their only lead of the opening half at 4-2.


New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) came back with a 7-0 run over the next minute to jump out to a 9-4 lead.


The lead would get as high as 10 for NMHU (13-13, 11-11 RMAC) at the 12:40 mark when the Mustangs would begin to get back into the game.


Chad Arechiga (Tucson, AZ/Ironwood Ridge) hit the second of two three-pointers in a 30-second stretch, with the last one bringing WNMU within one, 28-27, with 4:42 to go before halftime.
Following a Suarez free throw at the 2:57 mark to bring WNMU back within three, 31-28, NMHU would close the half on a 6-0 run to take a 37-28 lead into the locker room.


NMHU would open the second half with a three giving them their largest lead of the game at 12, 40-28.


Suarez came back with a transition trey and would help ignite a 10-2 run. Daryl Littleton (Tucson, AZ/Palo Verde High School) added a layup and after NMHU scored their only two points of the run on their next trip down the court, Carter connected on a three and Lucio Luttrell (Las Cruces, NM/Las Cruces High School) added a fastbreak layup making it a 42-38 game at the 15:56 mark.


NMHU would go back up by six on a pair of occasions before Carter would hit a foul shot and then Brelan Berry (Chandler, AZ/Basha High School) spun inside the lane for a layup, which Luttrell followed with a fastbreak layup to bring WNMU within one, 46-45, at the 13:56 mark.


WNMU would fight back to tie the game a minute later on a three-point play by Carter.


Merle Branch (Sierra Vista, AZ/Buena High School) gave WNMU their largest lead of the game at 54-50 on a transition jumper near the top-of-the-key at the midway point of the second half.


The lead would then change hands over the next three minutes when NMHU broke open a 58-all tie with a 4-0 run.


WNMU would get to within one, 62-61, with three minutes to play on a free throw by Suarez, but each time, NMHU had an answer.


A 5-0 run followed to boost the lead to 67-61 with a minute to play. Carter came through with another three-point play leaving WNMU behind by three with 50 seconds to play.


After NMHU missed two from the line, Carter tried a top-of-the-key three, but it missed with the Cowboys securing the rebound. They would split a pair from the line leaving WNMU behind by four with 16 seconds to play.


NMHU came up with a big defensive play on the next trip for WNMU, as Suarez's layup was blocked and the Cowboys collected the rebound with just seven seconds left.


They would hit both foul shots this time to move the lead to six. Andy Sohlich (Battle Creek, MI/St. Phillip Catholic Central High School) hit a deep three with a few seconds remaining pulling WNMU back within three, but after NMHU missed both foul shots, they grabbed the offensive rebound ending the game.


Carter paced WNMU going for 18 points, while Suarez (13), Luttrell (10) and Berry (11) all scored in double-figures. Lavell McDade and Mannie Cass led NMHU and all-scorers going for 19 points each.


WNMU made 40 percent (24-60) of their shots, while NMHU made 35.9 percent (23-64). WNMU held the edge in three-pointers (7-5), while NMHU won in free throws (19-12). Turnovers were also key with NMHU committing 12 to 20 for WNMU.


The game marked the end of five WNMU careers for Chad Carter (Tucson, AZ/Ironwood Ridge High School), Lucio Luttrell (Las Cruces, NM/Las Cruces High School), Juan Suarez (Nogales, AZ/Nogales High School), Darly Littleton, Andy Sohlich (Battle Creek, MI/St. Phillip Catholic Central High School), along with Director of Athletics/Head Men's Basketball Coach Mark Coleman who concluded his 29-year and 10-year coaching career at WNMU Saturday to focus on being the Director of Athletics.


The loss ends the season for WNMU, as they needed a win to remain in contention for the RMAC Tournament.