Denver- The Metropolitan State University of Denver men's basketball team (0-5) fell 81-74 to Northwest Nazarene (4-1) on Friday, November 24.
 
MSU Denver brought the energy to start the game with junior Enrique Cortes-Zotes scoring one from downtown on the Roadrunners first possession.  Senior Cameron Williams (Omaha, Nebraska/Omaha South H.S.) followed up the next possession scoring another from beyond the arch to beat the shot clock buzzer taking a 6-2 lead.
 
Following a Northwest Nazarene timeout, the Roadrunners extended an 8-0 run when Cortes-Zotes completed a three-point play followed by a big defensive steal to convert the fast break layup for the Roadrunners to take a comfortable 14-2 lead.  
 
The Roadrunners maintained a solid lead over the Crusaders through most of the half until the Crusaders made a run for the comeback bringing the score to within two with just over a minute remaining in the half.  A put back layup from senior Bounama Keita (Saint-Louis, Senegal/Impact Basketball Academy (Fla.)) would extend the Roadrunners lead to 39-35 at half.
 
Cortes-Zotes led all scorers at half with 12 points.  The Roadrunners shot 48 percent from the field in the first half, with the Crusaders shooting just under that at 46 percent.  
 
Northwest Nazarene took its first lead of the game six minutes into the second half going on a 9-0 run. The Crusaders would continue their run eventually extending it to a 14-0 run taking a 49-42 lead over the Roadrunners.
 
A pair of free throws from sophomore Allec Williams (Albany, Ga./Westover High School) would break the Crusader run and put the first points on the board for the Roadrunners since the first minute of the half.  Junior Jaryn Taylor (Yucaipa, Calif./Yucaipa High School) followed up scoring a layup to bring the Roadrunners back within three with 11:23 remaining in the game.
 
The Crusaders started to break away from the Roadrunners taking a 13-point lead with just over five minutes remaining.  A three from senior Peter Møller (Værløse, Denmark/Falkonergårdens Gymnasium) would bring the Roadrunners back within 10.
 
The Crusaders were able to extend their lead to 12 again but two more converted shots from downtown by Møller and a layup from Taylor would bring the Roadrunners back within four with 2:48 remaining in the game.
 
NNU would answer and extend its lead to nine with 1:39 left on the clock and despite a fight, the Roadrunners were unable to catch the Crusaders, falling 81-74.
 
Cortes-Zotes recorded a double double for MSU Denver with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Møller finished the night with 17 points.  Keita led the game with 12 rebounds.
 
The Roadrunners will host North Georgia tomorrow, Saturday, November 25 at 7 p.m.