Jan. 13, 2006

Box Score

DENVER, COLO. - Four players scored in double figures as Metro State defeated Mesa State, 75-60, in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference men's basketball game Friday evening at the Auraria Events Center.

Drew Williamson led the Roadrunners with 17 points, including 15 in the first half, while Michael Bahl and Dustin Ballard each had 15 points. Greg Muth posted 13 points and five steals, while Williamson added six steals and Bahl had eight boards for the Roadrunners. Stephen Soriano led Mesa State with 23 points and 12 rebounds, while Andy Classick had seven points and 12 boards. It was Metro State's 46th consecutive home victory and seventh straight win overall.

The Roadrunners survived despite being outrebounded 43-25, and shooting just 37.3 percent (19-for-51) for the game, thanks in part to their stifling defense. Metro State forced 30 turnovers and committed just 10 of its own. In addition, Metro State posted 14 assists on 19 buckets for the game.

"We didn't shoot the ball well tonight," said Roadrunner head coach Mike Dunlap. "Defensively we're doing a good job but offensively we have a long way to go."

After a Bahl trey with 8:48 to play in the game put the Roadrunners up by 20, 61-41, Metro State did not hit another basket in the game. However, Mesa State could get no closer than nine points, 65-56 with 2:23 to play, the rest of the way. The Mavericks committed four turnovers during that stretch.

In the first half, Mesa State tied the game at five on a Soriano tip in, but the Roadrunners went on a 10-0 run to lead 15-5 with 14:52 to play in the half. Metro State led by 16, 32-16, with 5:48 in the period, before the Mavericks went on a 12-6 run to cut the lead to 10 at the half, 38-28. Soriano had 15 of his points before the break for Mesa State, while Ballard had 11 of his in the first 20 minutes. Mesa State was just 2-for-12 from three-point land before intermission.

With the win, Metro State improves to 10-4 overall, 4-2 in the RMAC, while Mesa State drops to 9-5 overall, 3-3 in the RMAC. The Roadrunners host Western State tomorrow evening at 7 p.m.