Games Schedule
 Colorado Mesa repeats as #RMACmbb Tournament Champions in OT Thriller (Photo: RMAC)
Colorado Mesa repeats as #RMACmbb Tournament Champions in OT Thriller - Mar 13, 2021 
The 2021 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Men's Basketball Tournament Championship came down to the final shot in overtime, because of course it would be in a season like this. The No. 1 Colorado Mesa University (CMU) Mavericks repeated as conference tournament champions as they prevailed over No. 2 Colorado School of Mines (CSM) 75-74 in an instant classic. CMU improved to 6-0 in overtime games this season and accomplished a first in program history of winning both the regular season and tournament titles in the same year. Tournament MVP, Ethan Menzies (6'7''-F), led the Mavericks with 23 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. The Maverick offense tied the ballgame up in the final 30 seconds of regulation thanks to a Jared Small (6'7''-G) three pointer and a missed shot by CSM at the buzzer in OT is how it came to an end. The Mavericks set the pace early in the first half knocking down their first two three pointers and building an 8-3 lead after five minutes into the game. Georgie Dancer (6'3''-G) scored two of the three first bucks for CMU while CSM was shooting 16.7 percent at this point in the contest. As the half winded down, the Orediggers would find their stride and gain their first lead of the night as Kobi Betts (6'3''-G) would heat up, hitting four of his first five shots. The two teams would then continue to trade leads as halftime drew closer. Ethan Menzies finally got active for the Mavericks and after missing his first two FG's as he went on to shoot 66 percent for 12 points to lead the entire floor heading into the locker room. Menzies' hot streak would elevate the Mavericks to 38-30 lead going into the break. CMU shot 60.9 percent from the floor and 66.7 percent from three-point range as they knocked down six triples compared to CSM's two at halftime. In the second half, CSM would go on a 17-8 run to overtake the lead despite being down by eight points coming out of the locker room. Eight minutes into the second, the Orediggers were shooting 54.5 percent from the floor and made three shots from long range to get themselves back into the ball game. Both teams would then go on to exchange the lead two more times the time reached singular minutes, it was competitive basketball at its finest. Georgie Dancer was the second Maverick to get to double digits as he gained the lead back in favor of CMU with seven minutes to go. Brendan Sullivan (6'6''-G/F), the RMAC Player of the Year came alive at this point in the game and ended the day with scored 22 points. Sullivan's heroics put the Orediggers back in the drivers seat 69-64 in short time. The end of regulation would see a five-point Colorado School of Mines lead dwindle down in the final 90 seconds as CMU would make two crucial shots, including a three pointer from Jared Small with 26 seconds left to tie the game at 69 a piece to force OT. The Mavericks, who were a perfect 5-0 record in OT games in the regular season, got out an early lead in the extra time. They would lead by two points with a minute to go, CSM would cut it down to a point thanks to a free throw, and then on the final shot Kobi Betts missed a long jumper as time expired to cap the championship classic from Grand Junction. Brendan Sullivan and Kobi Betts finished the game with a combined 42 points while the Orediggers shot 43.9 percent from the field. The Mavericks had three players finish in double digits including Georgie Dancer who racked up 18 points and five assists, and Jared Small who dished out 13 points and eight boards. The Mavericks shot 55.8 percent from the floor and 57.1 percent from deep. RMAC Tournament Final: Colorado Mesa - Colorado School of Mines 75-74, OT RMAC Tournament Semifinals: Colorado Mesa - Adams State 78-66 Colorado School of Mines - Black Hills State 71-64 Courtesy of rmacsports.org All-RMAC Awards 2021 - Mar 13, 2021
All-Tournament MVP:  Ethan Menzies (6'7''-F) of CMUPlayer of the Year: Brendan Sullivan (6'6''-G/F) of Colorado MinesDefensive Player of the Year: Laolu Oke (6'7''-F) of MSU DenverFreshman of the Year: Christopher Speller (6'5''-G) of CMUCoach of the Year: Mike DeGeorge of CMU 1st Team Kobi Betts (6'3''-G) of Colorado Mines Alijah Comithier (6'5''-G/F) of UCCS Georgie Dancer (6'3''-G) of CMU Brian Dawson (6'1''-G) of Regis Univ. Riley Farris (6'9''-F) of Fort Lewis Ethan Menzies (6'7''-F) of CMU Laolu Oke (6'7''-F) of MSU Denver Joel Scott (6'7''-F) of BHSU Brendan Sullivan (6'6''-G/F) of Colorado Mines Destan Williams (5'9''-PG) of ASU2nd Team Joey Andrews (6'5''-G) of Westminster, UT Brenden Boatwright (6'9''-F/C) of Fort Lewis Sindou Cisse (6'3''-G) of BHSU Wilfred Dickson (6'4''-G-97) of SD Mines Michael Glen (6'7''-F/C) of Colorado Mines Frederick Jackson (6'8''-C) of ASU Matthew Ragsdale (6'4''-G) of Western St. David Simental (6'2''-G) of CSU-Pueblo Andy Stafford (6'4''-G/F) of CCU Ross Williams (5'10''-PG) of CCUHonorable Mention Ben Boone (6'5''-G) of Colorado Mines Kaelin Crane (6'6''-G/F) of ASU Mavrick Gildyard (6'6''-F) of MSU Denver Reece Johnson (6'3''-G) of CMU Matt Kitzman (6'3''-G) of Westminster, UT Teddy Parham Jr. (6'2''-PG) of Chadron St. Alejandro Rama (6'1''-G-00) of SD Mines Kobe Sanders (6'0''-PG) of MSU Denver Cole Sienknecht (6'1''-G) of Western St. Christopher Speller (6'5''-G) of CMU Austin Means (6'8''-F/C) of Colorado Mines Kolten Mortensen (6'7''-F-97) of SD Mines Adam Moussa (6'3''-G) of BHSU Trey Whitley (6'1''-G) of BHSUAll-Tournament Team Ethan Menzies (6'7''-F) of CMU Georgie Dancer (6'3''-G) of CMU Jared Small (6'7''-G) of CMU Mac Riniker (6'5''-G) of CMU Brendan Sullivan (6'6''-G/F) of Colorado Mines Kobi Betts (6'3''-G) of Colorado Mines Destan Williams (5'9''-PG) of ASU Joel Scott (6'7''-F) of BHSU |
Men
Women
Subscribe
Login
DeGeorge
