DENVER - No. 10/24 Metropolitan State University of Denver used a pair of 12-0 runs in the first half to earn a 78-47 win over New Mexico Highlands on Friday at the Auraria Event Center. The Roadrunners improved to 10-2 overall and 5-1 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, while Highlands fell to 1-9 and 1-6.
 
Jourdon Hunter (Denver, Colo./Kennedy H.S.) buried 7-of-10 from 3-point range to score a career-high 21 points. Nicholas Kay (Tamworth, Australia/Newington College) scored 18 points and had six rebounds, while Mitch McCarron (Brisbane, Australia/Genesis Christian College) filled up the stat sheet with 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists. DeShawn Phenix (Fort Worth, Texas/North Crowley H.S.) added nine points and four rebounds off the bench and Eric Rayer (Colorado Springs/Coronado H.S.) knocked down a pair of 3-pointers, finishing with eight points.
 
The Roadrunners committed just eight turnovers and forced 17, while outrebounding the Cowboys 39-to-34. They also outshot Highlands 45.5 percent to 31.1 percent.
 
MSU Denver broke a 17-17 tie with 12 consecutive points to lead 29-17 with 6:13 to go in the first half. The Roadrunners used another 12-0 run to lead 41-20 before the Cowboys beat the buzzer for a 41-22 halftime lead for MSU Denver. Hunter buried 5-of-8 3-point shots in the first half to score 15 points, leading all scorers.
 
The Roadrunners led by as many 34 points in the second half, their largest lead of the season.
 
Kendrick Nichols led the Cowboys with 21 points off the bench, hitting 8-of-16 from the floor.
 
MSU Denver will host Western New Mexico at 7 p.m. on Saturday.