MESA, Ariz. – Coming off of a thrilling four overtime battle on Monday, the Western New Mexico University men's basketball team will head to Arizona to face Benedictine University at Mesa Friday at 7 p.m. It will be the first of two straight for the Mustangs against the Redhawks as after they play each other Friday, they will match up again on Dec. 1 in Silver City.

WNMU is 0-3 on the season but has come close in their last two games. The Mustangs nearly won against Northern New Mexico on Monday before falling by a point, 108-107, in four overtimes. Willie McCray (Clovis, NM/Clovis/Westwind Prep Academy ) went for a game-high 39 points. The game before that at Oklahoma Panhandle State the Aggies came back late to defeat the Mustangs, 81-72.

Following McCray's big game, he now leads the team in points per game at 15.7. He also adds 4.0 rebounds, three assists and six steals in 27 minutes per game. Three other Mustangs are also in double-digit scoring. Makhtar Fall (Morocco/Ecole Al Jabr) tallies 12 points and six rebounds and also has a team-high seven blocks. Emery Range (Grand Rapids, MI/Willow Canyon) averages a double-double with 11.3 points and 10.0 rebounds and also has four assists and three steals in averaging the most minutes per game at 33.3. Daniel Van Den Kerkhof (New Zealand), in his first collegiate game on Monday, tallied 10 points and also brought down four rebounds in 12 minutes. Fall, Range, Steven Loucks (Yuma, AZ/Cibola), Brandon Tanter (Long Beach, CA/Los Angeles Prep) and Jordan Enriquez (El Paso, TX/Bel Air ) have started all three games so far this season.

Benedictine University at Mesa is 2-6 on the season, but don't let the record fool you. The team has come close to winning a couple of games over nationally-ranked NAIA teams. They fell by 12 to Westmont and then Arizona Christian, ranked No. 4, they lost by just a point. They have wins over Antelope Valley and Embry Riddle (AZ).

Three players average in double-figures led by Troy Conley's 12.4 per game. Kyle Tomlinson adds 11.5 and Anthony Bryant with 10.8 per contest. Tomlinson leads the team in rebounds per game at 6.4.
Live video, audio and stats will be available for the game.