PUEBLO — Metro State, the kingpin of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Shootout, struck again.
The Roadrunners (23-6) defeated Colorado State-Pueblo 70-61 on Friday in the semifinals at the Colorado State Fair Events Center and will face New Mexico Highlands at 5 p.m. today for the title.
Trailing 23-22 with 5:45 left in the first half, Metro went on a 21-6 run, including 7-0 to open the second half, to put the game away.
“This team has come a long ways,” Metro coach Brannon Hays said. “Our game plan was to pressure the basketball and know where their shooters were. We did a good job not giving them good open looks.”
Metro got balanced scoring from four starters, led by Donte Nicholas’ 19. Reggie Evans had 16, Jonathan Morse 14 and Brian Minor 13.
N.M. Highlands 96, Colorado Christian 64
Chop Tang scored 23 points and Roman Andrade added 20 as the Cowboys (20-9) moved into the championship game.
The Cowboys raced to a 50-32 halftime advantage and never looked back against the Cougars (12-16). Justin Neuhaus was the lone Colorado Christian player in double figures with 26 points.
WOMEN
Fort Lewis 60, Metro State 46
Top-seeded Fort Lewis lived up to its billing when it avenged its only conference loss of the season, downing Metro State.
The Skyhawks began the game 0-for-9 from the field but went on a 13-0 run to take over the game. They scored 30 of the half’s final 38 points, carrying a dominant 30-14 advantage into halftime. Katie Mackey sank three 3-pointers for 12 points in the half and finished with 14 points.
Emily Wood had 15 points for Metro State.
CSU-Pueblo 66, Colorado Christian 63
Katrina Selsor, the RMAC freshman of the year, converted a 3-point play with 2:09 remaining and then blocked Abby Rosenthal’s layup with 20 left to preserve the victory. The ThunderWolves were without leading scorer Rachel Espinoza, who tore a knee ligament Tuesday against Adams State.
CSU-Pueblo meets Fort Lewis in the title game tonight at 7:30 p.m.
