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Moore is better from bench
Backups play huge role in wins against Cowboys, Mustangs
By Eric Lansing
lansing@mscd.edu

Photo by Jeremy Billis • jbillis@mscd.edu Western New Mexico’s D.J. Nicolas, right, blocks a shot by Metro’s Willison Price, left. It was one of the few shots that didn’t go down for the Roadrunners as they defeated the Mustangs 78-67 at the Auraria Events Center. Price contributed six points and seven rebounds for Metro in 12 minutes of play.

It was a recipe for annihilation.

The men’s basketball team was ranked second in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in scoring offense with 80 points per game. New Mexico Highlands was ranked second to last in the conference in scoring defense, allowing 85 points per game.

Those stats held true for the No. 12-ranked Roadrunners as they obliterated the Cowboys 108-77 in conference play Jan. 12 at the Auraria Events Center.

Metro shot an amazing 57 percent from the field, including 52 percent from 3-point range, to fuel an offensive juggernaut that saw four Roadrunners score in double figures. Every Metro player that stepped onto the court scored at least two points and grabbed at least one rebound as the ’Runners won their fifth straight game.

“We had a really good week of practice,” Metro head coach Brannon Hays said. “This was one of our best weeks of practice. We took our practice and put it into our game tonight.”

Forward Michael Bahl led the way with a spectacular first half performance that saw the team captain score 17 points on 6-of-6 shooting, including 5-for-5 from long range. Bahl finished the game with 19 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Bahl wasn’t needed much in the second half, as the Metro bench played valuable minutes in the blowout.

“It was just one of those games,” Bahl said. “I’ve been working hard all week, the team has been working hard all week. I have to give credit to the guys who found me open.”

The Cowboys actually scored the game’s first two points when guard Anthony Fuller received a great assist from forward Steven Sanchez in the opening four seconds. Metro forward Jesse Wagstaff hit a 15-foot jumper to tie the game at 2-2, but Fuller came right back to hit a jumper of his own to give the Cowboys the last lead they would ever see in this game.

The Roadrunners reeled off a 36-13 run that put the lead at 21. The lead got to 25, but the Cowboys scored the last eight points of the half to cut Metro’s lead to 17.

Then 6-foot-8-inch forward Jarbarry Moore came alive for the ’Runners and scored 11 of his 14 points in the second half, including three dunks that brought the crowd to their feet.

“It felt good, especially since I didn’t play in the first half of the season.” Moore said. “So I’m just getting into my game right now. You should look forward to more things from me.”

Moore had been sidelined with injuries since the season started and with his great play in the paint as well as his range from 3-point land (3-for-7 in the game), he looks to be a great asset to the team.

“It’s nice to see him get a couple dunks out there,” Bahl said. “He has tremendous talent, and it’s just a matter of time. It’s his first year in the program, and I hope to see more of that from him.”

Metro’s lead got as high as 33 points, and much of which was due in part to the bench, who got some much needed experience that could be useful down the road when the starters may need rest or if injuries start to pile up.

Hays said the bench guys were great in practice this week and that they are starting to make practices highly competitive. He also said that it is important and nice to have an opportunity to give them quality minutes on the floor.

Along with Moore, forward Willison Price provided from the bench with 11 points and grabbing four rebounds. Guard Joe Ciancio was perfect from downtown, shooting 3-for-3 to score nine points, while guard Terrell Burgess added nine points and seven assists when spelling fellow guard Marquise Carrington.

Fuller led the way for the Cowboys, scoring 26 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Guard Anthony Lambert had 17 points, and forward Eddie Abreu put up 13.

The next night wasn’t as easy as Metro rallied from an early deficit to take out the Mustangs of Western New Mexico 78-67 at the Auraria Events Center.

Bahl once again led all scores with 21 points and led Metro from eight points down in the first half to a two-point lead by halftime.

The Mustangs cut the lead to one point with seven minutes to go, but Bahl hit a 3-point shot to put the score at 66-62, and then extended the lead with two free throws. Moore put the finishing touches with an easy layup, grabbing his own rebound to put it back in after missing two easy tip-ins.

Western New Mexico actually outshot Metro 48 percent to 45 percent but the Roadrunners outrebounded them 38-29. The win gave Metro their sixth straight victory.

The wins give the Roadrunners 13-2 overall record. Metro will host Colorado School of Mines Jan. 19 at the Auraria Events Center.