Box Score Video Highlights

DENVER – No. 3 Metro State received 38 points combined from Reggie Evans (Aurora, Colo./Rangeview H.S.) and Jonathan Morse (Boulder, Colo./Fairview H.S.) as the host Roadrunners snapped a two-game losing streak to New Mexico Highlands with an 88-68 win on Friday night at the Auraria Event Center. Metro State improved to 6-0 overall and 1-0 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, while NMHU fell to 1-4 and 0-1.

Metro State dropped both of its meetings last season to the Cowboys.

After missing his first eight shot attempts, Evans recovered with 17 points in the second half and hit 5-of-6 at the line in the final 2:31. Morse was 7-of-10 from the floor and had 11 rebounds for his ninth career double-double. He also had two blocks and two steals.

Three others scored in double figures, including Brandon Jefferson (Flower Mound, Texas/Lewisville H.S.) with 14 and Demetrius Miller (Flint, Mich./Flint Central H.S.) and Nicholas Kay (Tamworth, Australia/Newington College) with 12 each. Paul Brotherson (Sydney, Australia/Westfields Sports High) chipped in with nine as well.

Miller and Evans each had five assists.

Morse's 11 boards helped Metro State outrebound NMHU 44-33. Kay also had eight boards and Evans had seven.

Metro jumped out to a 22-6 lead midway through the first half and built a 37-14 lead after a 13-1 run with 2:20 left. A late Highlands run cut the halftime lead to 38-21. The Roadrunners forced 14 turnovers and held the Cowboys to 24.0 percent shooting in the first half. Morse led all scorers with 11 points at the break.

The Cowboys twice cut the lead to 11 in the second half, but could not get any closer. An 8-0 run pushed the lead back to 57-38 as Evans got hot with a pair of fastbreak buckets, including a dunk at the 13:31 mark.

NMHU again cut the lead to 11 at 73-62 with 3:48 left, but Metro State hit 11-of-14 at the line during the closing minutes to seal the win.

Metro State will host Western New Mexico (1-3, 1-0 RMAC) at 7 p.m. on Saturday.