Denver- The Metropolitan State University of Denver men's basketball team defeated Western State 84-75 to go 2-0 on the weekend. The Roadrunners improved to 11-8 overall and 10-3 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.  The Mountaineers fell to 7-12 overall and 5-8 in conference play.
 
The Mountaineers kicked off the game draining one from downtown to take a 3-0 lead.  However, Senior Cameron Williams (Omaha, Nebraska/Omaha South H.S.) would then take over, scoring seven to dominate a 9-0 run for the Roadrunners.
 
Following a six-point Roadrunners lead the Mountaineers fought to bring the score back within two with just over 15 to play in the half. However, the Roadrunners would take over the game in the minutes to follow. A dunk from senior Bounama Keita (Saint-Louis, Senegal/Impact Basketball Academy (Fla.)) would light up the energy in the Auaria Event Center.  Two back-to-back threes from senior Peter Møller (Værløse, Denmark/Falkonergårdens Gymnasium) would give MSU Denver a 15-point lead.
 
The Roadrunners would complete a 17-0 run from 12:59- 9:04 to extend the lead to 18. MSU Denver didn't let up and led by as many as 22 in the half. The teams headed into the locker room at half with the Roadrunners on top 48-31.
 
MSU Denver had a great half shooting 55 percent from the field and 55 percent from downtown. The Roadrunners held the Mountaineers to 33 percent from the field and 30 percent from the three. Cam Williams led at half with 13 points.
 
For majority of the second half was the same story from the first with the Roadrunners dominating both sides of the court.
 
The Moutaineers brought the game within 10 with 1:30 left on the clock and followed by scoring one from behind the arch to bring the score within seven.
 
With 1:09 remaining in the game the score was 77-71 in favor of the Roadrunners. Western was able to bring it within five, but a three-point play from junior Jaryn Taylor (Yucaipa, Calif./Yucaipa High School) gave the Roadrunners a nine-point lead with 24 seconds on the clock and that would be enough for the Roadrunners to take the 84-75 win.
 
Three Roadrunners ended the night in double figures. Taylor led the Roadrunners with 24 points.  Cam Williams added 21 points and seven assists and Peter Møller (Værløse, Denmark/Falkonergårdens Gymnasium) finished the game with 22 points and five assists. MSU Denver shot 63 percent from the field and 50 percent from the three.
 
MSU Denver will host UCCS on Tuesday, January 23 at 7:30 p.m.