@MSUDenverMBB: Roadrunners Get Back on Track with Big Second Half vs New Mexico Highlands
DENVER - After losing two straight vs Regis University at home and on the road vs Colorado School of Mines, MSU Denver got back to its winning ways with a strong defensive effort in the second half against New Mexico Highlands, beating the Cowboys 79-68.
Quave Propst-Allison kicked off the game with two big threes and 10 of the team's first 12 points. The junior guard donned a #22 jersey as his typical #2 was in the shop getting repaired. The first half wound up to be a slug-fest as both teams went back and forth before MSU Denver pulled away with a two point lead (35-33) at the half after Jamil Safieddine was fouled on a 3 point shot with under a second remaining. MSU Denver didn't have the cleanest first half on the defensive end as the second leading scorer in the RMAC Kenard Richardson put up 15 points on 6-12 shooting.
However, Head Coach Dan Ficke echoed at halftime to stay the course and to continue to push the pace as the roadrunners finished with 13 fast break points, a stat that has been a huge success point for the squad all year.
The Roadrunners made the necessary adjustments coming out of the break as the team opened up the second half on a 15-3 run and put MSU Denver out front 50-36 with 15:24 remaining in the ball game. Five players would finish with double digits as Propst-Allison was the leading scorer for the club with 14 points to go along with 5 rebounds and 2 steals. The defensive intensity ramped up as the Roadrunners held the Cowboys to 11 points under their season average as well as just 37.5% from the field and 20% from the 3 point line. MSU Denver forced 11 turnovers that helped lead to 23 fast break points. Coach Ficke has said all year long that he thinks this team can be just as good on the defensive end as they can be on the offensive side, and that couldn't have been more evident as the roadrunners held Kenard Richardson to just one field goal make and 3 points in the second half before he fouled out with under 4 remaining.
After the game, the Coach Ficke spoke about how the team still needs to clean up some mistakes as they finished with 14 turnovers with 8 coming in the second half alone. The free throw woes that plagued MSU Denver vs Colorado School of Mines continued with the team shooting just 60% from the stripe. There is another gear this team can reach that has yet to be seen, and they'll have another chance to prove it this coming Saturday, February 1 at the Auraria Event Center as they welcome in the Fort Lewis Skyhawks, a familiar foe that they beat earlier this season 65-48.
Leading Players
New Mexico Highlands University:
Kenard Richardson - 18 points 7 rebounds and 3 steals on 7-18 shooting
Delon Mccloud - 11 points 2 rebounds and 1 steal on 5-10 shooting
MSU Denver:
Quave Propst-Allison - 14 points 5 rebounds and 2 steals on 4-5 shooting and 3-4 from 3
Brayden Carter - 10 points 15 rebounds 4 assists on 4-7 shooting
Next game: Saturday, February 1 at 3pm vs Fort Lewis at the Auraria Event Center
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