SILVER CITY, N.M. – New Mexico Highlands University connected on nearly 50 percent from the field and utilized fast break points on their way to defeating the Western New Mexico University men's basketball team, 91-71, Friday night in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.

NMHU (15-13, 14-8 RMAC) shot well in both halves making 15-32 (47) in the first half and then 16-31 (52) in the second half to connect on 31-63 (49) for the game. They shot 31 three-pointers, making 11 (36) and went 18-23 (78) from the foul line.

WNMU (1-26, 1-21 RMAC) was limited to 21-72 (29) from the field, 6-29 (21) from three and 23-29 (79) at the foul line.

The Cowboys exploded out of the gates as following a triple by Kesler tied the game at three two minutes in, NMHU went on a 11-0 run to open a 14-3 lead at the 16:40 mark.

The lead reached as high as 20 before the Mustangs began to work their way back into the game before the break. Senior Makhtar Fall (Morocco/Ecole Al Jabr) and freshman Willie McCray connected on five straight points to cut the deficit down to 10 with still two minutes before halftime.

Fall closed the half with a jumper in the paint leaving NMHU with the 49-37 lead.

NMHU kept the lead throughout the second half, although WNMU made another run to get to within 11 with five minutes to go in the contest. Junior Emery Range (Grand Rapids, MI/Willow Canyon) hit a jumper in the paint and then junior Brandon Williams (Long Beach, CA/Los Angeles Prep) drilled a trey from the top-of-the-key leaving the Cowboys in front, 77-66.

NMHU responded to put the game away with a quick 9-0 run to push the lead back to 20.

Range paced the Mustangs with 21 points, going 6-14 from the field and 2-3 from long range. McCray reached double-figures with 14 points. Fall in his final game as a Mustang went for nine points, five rebounds, a block and three steals. Kesler capped his final game with six points that included a three-pointer.

Four players scored in double-figures to lead the Cowboys as Kendrick Nichols went for a game-high 23 points. Jonathon Mines added 22 points. Marlon Johnson went for a double-double scoring 12 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.

It's the first time since 2012-13 that NMHU swept the season series from the Mustangs.