GRAND JUNCTION/GUNNISON, Colo. – After a pair of near comeback victories, the Western New Mexico University men's basketball team will hit the road to face Colorado Mesa  University and Western State Colorado University this weekend.

CMU is 6-2 overall and 1-1 in the RMAC. They split their road games this past weekend falling at Chadron State (64-58) before coming back with a dominating 80-58 win against Black Hills State. Prior to their loss against Chadron State they had won four in a row.

Ryan Stephan has been a force inside-and-out for the Mavericks leading the team in almost every category. He averages 24.6 points per game, one of the top marks in the nation. He also leads the team in blocks (10), rebounds (8.0), free throws (34) and field goals made (75). He is tied for the team lead in steals (6) and has connected on 13 three-pointers. Jerry Duckworth adds another 12.6 points per game, while Julian Vasquez chips in 9.5.

The Mavericks have also won the last eight in the series on the men's side. The last win came for WNMU in the 2009-10 campaign defeating then Mesa State in Silver City, 80-72.

Live stats, video and audio will be available for the game that begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

The next night, the Mustangs will face the Mountaineers. WSCU is 1-5 overall and 0-2 in the RMAC. They came close to winning at Black Hills State, falling 64-57. Chadron State then came away with a 73-57 win the next night. They faced a similar opponent in Angelo State in which they fell, 89-73.

Mason Biddle (18.2), Danny Hopkins (12.7) and Devin Kastrup (12.7) all average in double-figures to lead the team. C.J. Schutt is close averaging 9.2 per contest.

The teams split last season with both winning at home. WNMU claimed the first meeting in Silver City, 81-52 and then WSCU came back with an 80-71 win in Gunnison.

Live stats, video and audio will also be available for the game beginning at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

WNMU (0-6 overall, 0-2 RMAC) came close to pulling off comebacks this past weekend. They nearly erased an over 20-point deficit against Colorado Mines, falling by 10 and then the next night coming back to within a possession a couple of times against Colorado Christian before the Cougars held on for the 61-57 win.

Marcos Castrillo (San Francisco, CA/Pinole Valley) and Terrez Scott (Santa Clarita, CA/Valencia) are both in double-figures in terms of scoring with Castrillo leading the team at 12.3, while Scott adds another 11. Castrillo also leads the team in blocks (6), rebounds (7.2) and field goals (25). Scott leads in steals (7), and assists (17). Brandon Tanter (Long Beach, CA/Los Angeles Prep) adds another 9.2 per game, along with 12 assists and five steals.