CMU Basketball Teams Face Tough Weekend on the Road

The Colorado Mesa men's and women's basketball teams face a tough test this weekend  on the road as they take on #13 Colorado Mines and Colorado Christian University.The Mavericks face a top 20 team for the 4th time in five weeks, but have more than held their own. The stretch includes a 3 points loss to Mines in Grand Junction, a victory at previously unbeaten UCCS, and last week's disappointing one-point loss to Metro State. Overall this season, the Mavericks are 2-3 against ranked opponents and need two wins this weekend to stay in contention for the conference title.

Heading into the weekend there is a three-way time for first place with Mines, Metro State, and UCCS all at 11-2. Fort Lewis is just a game back at 10-3, and the Mavericks sit two games behind the leaders at 9-4. There is also a real battle for the #4 spot in the RMAC tournament. CSU Pueblo is in 6th place at 8-5, followed by Adams State at 7-6, and Colorado Christian at 6-7.

Colorado Christian will be looking to avenge a last second loss to the Mavericks earlier in the month, when Julian Vasquez hit a baseline jumper as time expired. The Cougars have lost three in a row and are 2-6 in the month of January.

The Mavericks have had their fair share of close games this season. Twelve games have been decided by 10 or less. The Mavs are 6-2  this season in eight games decided by three points or less.

Meanwhile, the Maverick women know both games this weekend will be tough as well.

In the earlier match up with Mines, the Mavericks won 44-42 on Erika Mustante's lay in as time expired. Mines now has their top scorer, Taylor Helbig back in the line up. She poured in 29  points last weekend in a loss to Fort Lewis.

CCU, meanwhile, will have three different starters in the line up including Christina Whitelaw, division I transfer Alyssa Fressle, and all-RMAC pre-season selection Kayla Fakelman, who was out with an injury the last time these teams met. The Mavs won the previous match up 55-50.

With two wins last weekend, the Mavericks moved into a first place time with UCCS at 11-2. The Mavs currently hold the tiebreaker over UCCS, but if both teams would win out, the Cougars would get the title based on the RMAC point system.The CCU Cougars are 8-5 and very much in contention for post-season play, while the Orediggers sit in 10th place and battling to get into the top eight.

Friday's game with Colorado Mines begins at 6:00pm in Golden, with Saturday's game with CCU starting at 6.You can hear the games on ESPN Radio 1230, and on line at www.1230espn.com