Jan. 12, 2007

Box Score

DENVER, COLO. - Michael Bahl scored 19 points, while Marquise Carrington added a career-high 17 points, to lead No. 12-ranked Metro State to a 108-77 victory over New Mexico Highlands in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference men's basketball game, Friday evening at the Auraria Events Center.

Four players scored in double figures for Metro State, as Jarbarry Moore posted 14 points and Willison Price added 11 points. Every player who got into the game scored at least two points and also had at least one rebound, led by Jesse Wagstaff and Moussa Coulibaly with six boards apiece. Carrington had eight assists and zero turnovers for Metro State. Anthony Fuller scored a game-high 26 points and had seven rebounds for New Mexico Highlands, while Anthony Lambert added 17 points.

"We have a whole team of guys who are able to score at any moment," said Bahl. "All of our hard work paid off tonight. Coach has been on Marquise and Terrell Burgess to take more of a leadership role and both did that tonight."

The Roadrunners posted a season-high point total and shot 13-for-25 (52 percent) from three-point land, tying their season best for three-point field goals in a game. Metro State shot a blazing 61 percent from the floor in the second half and 57 percent for the game. New Mexico Highlands committed 23 turnovers and shot just 7-for-26 from long range for the game.

Metro State led by 17 at the break, 52-35, but went on a 27-12 run to begin the second half and break the game open. The Roadrunners scored 33 points off Cowboy miscues and also got 56 points from their bench in the game.

Metro State led 36-15 with just over nine minutes to go in the second half after consecutive treys by Joe Ciancio. After New Mexico Highlands cut it to 15, 40-25, the Roadrunners answered with a 12-2 run to lead 52-27. The Cowboys then scored eight straight points trim the margin to 17 at the break. Bahl scored 17 of his points in the opening period, including 6-for-6 from the field and 5-for-5 from three-point land. The Cowboys were 2-for-11 from three-point land in the first half.

With the win, Metro State improves to 12-2 overall, 5-1 in the RMAC, while New Mexico Highlands falls to 2-11 overall, 2-4 in the RMAC. The Roadrunners host Western New Mexico, Saturday evening at 7 p.m.