DENVER, Colo. - Jesse Wagstaff posted a game-high 19 points to lead Metro State past Western State, 68-59, at the Auraria Events Center. The senior from Canberra, Australia, hit 7-of-8 free throws and 5-of-10 field goals, while also grabbing a team-high nine rebounds.

The Roadrunners fell behind early as the Mountaineers built a 17-6 lead just under seven minutes into the contest, but Nelson Ekeh started a 7-0 run for the Roadrunners with a layup at the 12:35 mark of the first half. Meneptha Darden added a jumper and Chris Robinson (Irvine, Calif./Jserra H.S.) drained a three-pointer to pull Metro State to within 17-13, but Western State answered with a layup and three-pointer from Allen McFarland to push the lead back to 22-13.

Metro State then used a 10-0 run to claim its first lead of the game at 23-22 with six minutes to play in the first stanza, led by back-to-back three-pointers from Wagstaff and Daniel Bass. The teams traded leads before Western State emerged with a 34-31 lead at intermission.

A pair of free throws by Wagstaff put Metro State ahead 37-36 just two minutes into the second stanza and the Roadrunners would not trail again as they posted their seventh win in the last eight games.

Balanced scoring boosted the Roadrunners, now 3-1 in the RMAC, as 10-of-11 players who saw action found the net, including 26 points off the bench. Marquise Carrington tallied nine points, followed by Darden with eight, Robinson with seven and Ekeh with six.

The Roadrunners will return to action after the holidays by facing non-conference foes Bethel and Westminster in the Metro State/Colorado School of Mines Holiday Classic. Metro State faces Bethel Friday, Jan. 2 at 7 p.m. at the Auraria Events Center.