GUNNISON, Colo. – The start was solid with the Western New Mexico University men's basketball team moving to a five-point lead midway through the first half. Western State Colorado University quickly reversed the outcome of the game from that point on coming back to defeat the Mustangs 93-64 Friday night in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.

WSCU (3-11, 2-6 RMAC) came out firing posting the first six points to start the game. Steven Loucks (Yuma, AZ/Cibola) got WNMU (0-13, 0-8 RMAC) on the board nearly three minutes in and helped get the Mustangs going on their own 6-0 run to tie the game. Emery Range (Grand Rapids, MI/Willow Canyon) and Makhtar Fall (Morocco/Ecole Al Jabr) added jumpers during the stretch.

Brandon Tanter (Long Beach, CA/Los Angeles Prep) split a pair from the free throw line that gave WNMU their first lead at the 14:45 mark at 9-8. Fall then collected back-to-back baskets near the midway point of the half to push the Mustangs' lead to their largest of the night at 15-10.

Jordan Enriquez (El Paso, TX/Bel Air ) drilled a three-pointer a few minutes later to keep the lead at four. Following his three-pointer, the Mountaineers began to take over finishing the half on a 34-8 run to open a 48-26 halftime lead.

WNMU put together a 10-0 run nearly five minutes into the second half started by an Adam Kesler (Silver City, NM/Silver) jumper. Kesler continued his own run with back-to-back three-pointers before Willie McCray (Clovis, NM/Clovis/Westwind Prep Academy ) closed the spurt with a layup at the 13:26 mark to bring WNMU back to within 22.

That would be as close as they would get the rest of the way with WSCU taking the victory.

WNMU connected on just 22-68 (32.4) from the field and went 5-22 (22.7) from three-point range. They added a 15-21 (71.4) effort at the charity stripe. WSCU shot well making 29-62 (46.8) and hit on 10-25 (40) from three. They converted 25-32 (78) at the foul line.

Kesler came off the bench to lead the Mustangs with 12 points, going 4-8 from the field. Range also added nine, while Enriquez and Adam Saenz (Benson, AZ/Benson) tallied eight points apiece.
Ben Beauchamp led four Mountaineers in double-figure scoring with 15 points. Danny Hopkins added 14 points and a double-double with 12 rebounds.

WNMU will remain on the road tomorrow night when they play at Colorado State University-Pueblo starting at 7:30 p.m. The ThunderWolves defeated New Mexico Highlands, 88-69, earlier tonight.