March 1, 2006

Box Score

DENVER, COLO. - Metro State took advantage of two Mesa State technical fouls in the final four minutes of the game and Michael Bahl scored 21 points in a 68-58 victory over the Mavericks in the first round of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament Wednesday evening at the Auraria Events Center.

"That was ugly basketball at its best," said Roadrunner head coach Mike Dunlap. "There were two technical fouls within three minutes. Fortunately it was on them and not on us. Poise, it came down to poise."

In a game that was a defensive struggle for much of the night, Mesa State lost its composure down the stretch and the Roadrunners hit their free throws to put the game away. Metro State held just a one-point lead, 53-52, with 5:40 to play when things unraveled for Mesa State. With a chance to tie the game at the free-throw line, the Mavericks missed, then missed another jumper on the ensuing possession. With yet another chance to take the lead, Steven Soriano committed a turnover and was then called for an unsportsmanlike technical foul. Drew Williamson turned the technical into points as he made 1-for-2 from the line, then made a layup to give the Roadrunners a 56-52 lead with 3:36 to play.

Mesa State still had a chance as the margin was just three, 56-53, with less than two minutes to play. Micky Schlagel picked off a Michael Bahl pass but missed the breakaway layup and Bahl made two more free throws to give the Roadrunners a 58-53 lead with just 1:46 to go. Andy Classick then missed a layup and was whistled for another unsportsmanlike technical with 1:04 remaining. Greg Muth then put the dagger in the Mavericks as he made both free throws and then a trey to give Metro State a 63-53 lead with just 44 seconds to go.

Bahl led all scorers with 21 points, while Williamson had 14 and Muth added 10 for the Roadrunners. Jesse Wagstaff pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds and Muth dished out six assists. Soriano scored 15 for the Mavericks, while Classick and Kenny Schlagel had 12 apiece. Soriano had nine rebounds, while Micky Schlagel had five assists.

"Wagstaff was the difference with his 10 rebounds," said Dunlap. "That was huge."

The Mavericks were hurt by poor free-throw shooting all night long as they made just 57.1 percent (12-for-21) from the stripe. Metro State made 21-for-26 from the line, including 15-for-20 in the second half when it made just 30 percent from the field. Metro State also outrebounded Mesa State in the second half, 18-13, and forced 20 turnovers for the game.

"We won because they turned the ball over eight more times than us," said Dunlap.

Metro State led by eight points, 37-29, early in the second half but Mesa State went on an 8-2 run to cut the lead to just two, 39-37, three minutes in. The game featured four ties as Mesa State knotted the game at 49 on a trey by Zane Davis with 11:02 to play, then at 51 with just over nine minutes to go.

Metro State took an eight-point halftime lead after shooting 52.6 percent from the field and forcing 11 first-half turnovers. The Roadrunners scored 16 points off Maverick miscues. Metro State jumped out to a 12-7 advantage but Mesa State cut the lead to just one, 14-13, on a Kenny Schlagel trey. The Roadrunners scored seven straight points to take a 21-13 advantage and a Bahl trey gave Metro State a 32-22 lead with just under two minutes remaining. Bahl had 11 first-half points, while Soriano had seven for Mesa State. The Mavericks held a 16-12 rebounding advantage, including eight offensive rebounds.

In other first round games, Fort Hays State defeated New Mexico Highlands, 73-69, Nebraska-Kearney defeated Adams State, 80-65, and Colorado School of Mines defeated Fort Lewis, 72-71.

With the win, Metro State improves to 20-8 overall, while Mesa State falls to 19-9 overall. The Roadrunners face No. 1-seed Fort Hays State in the semifinals of the RMAC Shootout, March 4 at noon.