Mavs Drop West Division Road Games
(Fall to Fort Lewis 80-70, Western State 56-52)

Mesa State opened west division play on the road this week dropping contests to west division leader Fort Lewis College (13-3, 8-1) and Western State (7-10, 5-4). The losses dropped the Mavs to 8-8 overall and 5-4 in RMAC action.

Tuesday night in Durango the Skyhawks posted a 80-70 victory with four players scoring in double figures. FLC shot 53.6 percent (30-56) from the floor and 47.8 percent (11-23) from the 3-point line. MSC shot 43.6 percent (24-55) from the field and 25 percent (6-24) from the arc.

MSC's Ryan Mathews led the Mavs with 18 points off the bench. Justin Ashbaugh posted a double-double, scoring 11 points and pulling down a season and game high 15 rebounds.

MSC trailed 37-41 at half and pulled to within four points with 11:38 remaining in regulation when the Skyhawks went on an 11-4 run to push the lead to 11 points.

Western State College moved in to a tie with Mesa State for third place in the west division with a 56-52 victory Saturday night in Gunnison.

MSC's Justin Ashbaugh posted a game high 20 points (seven rebounds, three steals) and Kurt Bangle added 14 points and and pulled down a game high eight rebounds.

Western State had two players in double figures and eight of the 11 Mountaineers who played scored at least two points in posting their fifth RMAC win (5-4). WSC hit 13-of-18 (72.2%) from foul line while MSC made 11-of-20 (55.0%). MSC was 1-of-8 from the arc and the Mountaineers 5-of-21.

MSC will return home this weekend to Brownson Arena, where they are 4-1, to host Western New Mexico and New Mexico Highlands.

---MAVS---