Box Score LAS VEGAS, N.M. - No. 18 Metro State rallied from a 14-point second-half deficit to defeat New Mexico Highlands 75-71 on the road in Las Vegas, N.M., on Saturday night. The Roadrunners improved to 21-5 overall and 16-5 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, while the Cowboys dipped to 11-14 and 9-12.

It is the second time in the past three seasons the Roadrunners have rallied from a double-digit second-half deficit to beat New Mexico Highlands. In 2010, Metro trailed by 19 points with 15:44 left, but came back to win 83-79 over the Cowboys in the RMAC Shootout championship game.

Evans entered Saturday's game needing just 16 points to become the sixth player in school history to reach 1,500 career points and finished with a team-high 19 points on 8-of-16 shooting, while pulling down eight boards.

Demetrius Miller (Flint, Mich./Flint Central H.S.) hit 7-of-15 from the floor for 18 points. Jonathan Morse (Boulder, Colo./Fairview H.S.) had 12 points and nine rebounds. The junior is just four points shy of 1,000 for his career.

Brandon Jefferson (Flower Mound, Texas/Lewisville H.S.) chipped in with 10 points and six rebounds. Nicholas Kay (Tamworth, Australia/Newington College) scored seven points before fouling out.

The Cowboys shot 60 percent from the floor in the first half to lead 48-39 at halftime. Metro had no answer defensively for Arryon Williams, who scored 16 points in the first half for Highlands, making all six of his field goal attempts.

Metro fell behind by 14 points at 55-41 with 16:38 left, but a 19-4 run over the next 6:38 put the Roadrunners in front for the first time since they led 2-0 after the game's first possession. Kay buried his first career 3-pointer with 11:10 to go to cut the lead to one and put Metro in front 60-59 at the 10-minute mark with a layup on a putback.

The game remained close the rest of the way. Morse scored on a turnaround jump hook in the paint with 1:47 left to give Metro a 71-67 lead.

Mike Moody answered with a 3-point play, drawing the foul with 1:26 left to trim the lead back to one.

Morse came right back, scoring a layup after a one-handed pass from the top of the key from Miller with 56 seconds go to.

On the ensuing possession, Williams drew a foul with 39.9 seconds left, hitting 1-of-2 at the line as Metro maintained a two-point lead.

Miller let the shot clock wind down before driving and drawing a foul with 12 seconds left, hitting the second of two free throws for a three-point lead. The Roadrunners rebounded a missed 3-point attempt with three seconds left and Morse iced the game by making the first of two free throws.

Metro State committed just five turnovers in the game and forced 12, while outrebounding NMHU 38-33. Metro hit just 8-of-16 (.500) from the line, compared to 21-of-28 (.750) for Highlands.

Williams was held to just six points in the second half, but still finished with a game-high 22 points to lead the Cowboys.

Metro State will wrap up the regular season on Saturday, Feb. 25 at home against Regis University at 7 p.m.