SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Western New Mexico University Men's Basketball team made the trip up north to Salt Lake City for the Conference Crossover with the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). The new look Mustangs opened up their season with a loss to Westminster, 75-69.

Two Mustangs would manage double-figures on the Griffins. In his debut Cortaviaus Seales (Rock Island, IL/North Scott High School) scored 26 points on an impressive 9-14 from the field and 3-6 from deep. LaMarqus Merchant Jr. (Utica, NY/Utica Academy of Science) added 13 points.

Bench points and free throws (FTs) would do in the Mustangs this afternoon. The Griffins' bench outscored the Mustangs' 42-13. At charity stripe, the Griffins went 21-32 (65.6%), while the Mustangs shot 11-16 (68.8%).

On the boards Merchant Jr., Prosper Obidiebube (Houston, TX/Aspire Academy), Aaron Miller (Queens Village, NY/Benjamin Cardozo High School) and Allen Fordham (Far Rockaway, NY/Queens High School For Technology) each had five. Merchant Jr. also lead the team with five assists.

In the defensive department, Merchant Jr. once again lead the Mustangs with three steals. Obidiebube recorded one block.

In the first half the WNMU would shoot 44% from the field and 29% from behind the arc. WNMU would finish the game shooting 37% from the field and 30% from three. Westminster would shoot 44% for the game and 38% from behind the three-point line.

The Mustangs and Griffins were locked into a tight battle in the first half, with biggest lead being seven, courtesy of the Mustangs. Nik Atanasovs (Riga, Latvia/Vidusskloa) would heat up early with two first-half triples. WNMU went into halftime with a 35-30 advantage.

In the second half the Mustangs came out firing away, leading by eight thanks to three from Merchant Jr. right before the under 16 timeout. The Griffins throughout the second half would chip away at the Mustangs lead until Rylan O'Brien drilled a three from the right corner to give the Griffins lead 70-69 with 1:47 left to play. Westminster out lasted the Mustangs down the stretch for a 75-69 win.

Three Griffins would manage double-digits on the Mustangs. O'Brien dropped 18 points, including four from deep. Tyler Kurtz had 11 points and Chase Potter added 10.

Top Mustangs:
Cortaviaus Seales (Rock Island, IL/North Scott High School): 26 pts, (9-14 FG), (3-6 3FG)
LaMarqus Merchant Jr. (Utica, NY/Utica Academy of Science): 13 pts, 5 rebs, 5 asts, 3 stls