GOLDEN, Colo. -- Mesa State shot 60 percent from the field Saturday night to shoot down UNO and hand the Mavericks their fourth straight loss, 88-73, in the Colorado Mines Classic.
UNO fell to 1-4, in their fifth straight road game. The Mavs open the home season Tuesday night when they host Missouri Valley at Sapp Fieldhouse at 7.
"Hopefully, getting back home will put a little spring in our step," UNO coach
Derrin Hansen said. "We got hurt inside by Mesa State and didn't rebound very well."
Mesa State outrebounded UNO 32-22 in the game and led most of the way. After UNO forged a 15-11 lead, Mesa stormed back to score nine straight points to take control. UNO freshman
Michael Jenkins hit his third three-pointer of the half to stem the tide and sophomore guard
Denny Johnston tied the game at 25 at the 11:30 mark with a reverse layup.
From there,Mesa State gradually pulled away and took a 48-34 lead into the break.
UNO fell behind by as many as 21 and could never cool down Mesa State's hot hand the rest of the way.
The Mavericks, playing without senior forward
Ryan Curtis, who injured his hand Friday night, were led by
Calvin Kapels with 17 points, while Jenkins added 16 and
Jamaal Byers 10. UNO shot 44.4 percent from the field and hit 11 of 30 from behind the arc.
Mesa State was led by Andy Classick's 19 points and 7 rebounds. Adam Wall added 18 points and Kurt Bangle 17.
