THE RUNDOWN
GUNNISON, Colo. – Brandon Neel fell one point shy of matching a career high in the opening game of Western State's Comfort Inn Classic Friday night at Paul Wright Gymnasium.
 
His 26-point, 10-rebound effort served as a the highlight but it wasn't enough for Midwestern State to avoid falling to 0-3 for the first time in 27 years after taking a 90-78 loss to Colorado Mesa.
 
"We didn't guard very well," MSU coach Nelson Haggerty said. "We didn't guard the ball well and we didn't guard cuts well. They scored every way you can score."
 
The Mavericks shot 53.2 percent from the field on the way to winning their first game of the season improving to 1-2.
 
Junior center Damon Dubots hit 9-of-13 shots on the inside notching a team-high 21 points while freshman Kolton Peterson (5-of-7 on 3s for 17 points) and junior Emilio Acedo (4-of-9 on 3s for 16 points) combined on nine of CMU's 13 triples to provide perimeter punch.
 
Junior guard Connor Nichols connected on each of his six shots from the floor while going 6-of-7 from the line to score 16 points. He also pulled down seven rebounds.
 
The Mustangs lost their third straight game in the elevation of Colorado to start the season as MSU dropped games to Arkansas-Fort Smith and Rogers State last weekend in Pueblo.
 
"Elevation can't be an excuse. We pride ourselves on having a deep ball team," Haggerty said. "We have to overcome that."
 
Neel buried 8-of-15 shots from the floor with a pair of 3 pointers while going 7-of-9 from the charity stripe to finish with 26 points to go along with 10 rebounds.
 
Sophomore guard Logan Hicks chipped in 16 points with all put two coming in the first half, while Trey Kennedy scored 10.
 
Overall, the Mustangs managed just 38.1 percent from the field including an 8-of-28 effort (28.6 percent) from the arc.
 
"We competed well in the first half. We fell into shooting too many 3s. We shot a bunch of early shots that we didn't need to take," Haggerty said. "We played a good team who shot the ball well. We had a lot to do with that. They definitely out toughed us on some plays."
 
Midwestern State is 0-3 for the first time since the start of the 1990-91 season and has lost its last 10 games played away from D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
 
NOTES
- Colorado Mesa connected on 13 3-pointers shooting 54.2 percent from beyond the arc.
- Midwestern State has conceded a 50-percent shooting night by two of its three opponents.
- The Mustangs have been out-rebounded in each of its three games this season. Colorado Mesa controlled a +10 edge on the glass in the second half.
- MSU's last win away from Wichita Falls was a 108-104 overtime victory at Eastern New Mexico on Jan. 14, 2017. The 10-game road skid include neutral site games against UT Permian Basin (2017 LSC Tournament first round) and the first three games this season.
- The Mustangs are 0-3 for the sixth time in their 70th season of competition as a four-year institution.
- Sophomore Logan Hicks has scored in double figures in each of his three games this season finishing with 16 points. He is shooting 59.3 percent from the field with a 7-of-16 (43.8 percent) clip from the arc.
- Senior Brandon Neel notched his second double-double for the Maroon & Gold with 26 points and 10 rebounds. He had 22 points and 13boards last season against UT Permian Basin.
- Senior guard Trey Kennedy scored in double figures for second straight match with 10 points.
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State closes the Comfort Inn Classic Saturday night against host Western State (Colo.) Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m.