DENVER – Just call Enrique Cortes Zotes the MSU Denver handyman.
 
"He's a jack-of-all-trades type of player," Metropolitan State University of Denver coach Michael Bahl said. "If you need him to score, he can, but that's not his M.O. He's more of a pass-first, team player. He's consistently been one of our best rebounders over the course of his career from the guard spot. He's just got a knack for it. And he passes really, really well."
 
Further evidence of Cortes Zotes' all-around capabilities comes in taking a look at last weekend's box scores.
 
In a Friday loss to Northwestern Oklahoma State, the 6-foot-3 senior didn't make a shot from the field, but he had five points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals. Then, in Saturday's overtime upset of Texas A&M-Commerce, Cortes Zotes turned in one of the best statistical performances of his career with 16 points, 10 rebounds, two steals, and stellar defense on the Lions' Reggie Reid, the preseason Lone Star Conference player of the year.
 
"I'm a defensive guy," Cortes Zotes said. "That's what I do. I want to guard the best player on the other team and try to hold him under 10 points. I know offense will take care of itself if I take the right shots – 3s, layups, free throws. At the end of the day, it's about making baskets, but at the other end of the floor, if you get stops, you win the game."
 
Cortes Zotes recorded the 16^th double-figure scoring game of his career against the Lions, though it was only his second since his sophomore season.
 
"In terms of a complete game, it was one of his better ones," Bahl said. "He's had games with 10 or 12 rebounds. He's had games where he's had 16, 17 points (his career-high is 20). But in terms of putting it all together, that was one of his better games.
 
"And on the defensive side, he guarded their best player almost the entire game and still did what he did offensively. That's what seniors need to do."
 
Cortes Zotes is part of a long line of successful international players who have come through the Roadrunners' program. A native of Malaga, Spain, he hadn't thought much about playing basketball in the United States until catching up via text with friend Francis Alonso – a star player at NCAA Division I North Carolina-Greensboro.
 
"He was telling me that college basketball in the U.S.A. is something I have to experience," Cortes Zotes said.
 
Soon, the storied MSU Denver program was in touch with him, the first American college to make contact.
 
"We had a couple meetings and they told me they wanted to come here, and I decided to come," Cortes Zotes said. "The history here is unbelievable."
 
Bahl, an assistant at the time, said they'd seen some film of Cortes Zotes but hadn't seen him in person before making an offer. His pedigree, Bahl said, was strong. And Cortes Zotes hasn't disappointed.
 
He has played in 87 career games, starting 55 times, and has averaged 5.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals. This season he's averaging 7.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals.
 
"He's improved every year," Bahl said. "He's had some setbacks with injuries here and there, but over the time from his freshman year to now he's improved, and it's more on the mental side of the game. He's got a voice. He understands the game at a very high level – most European kids do. So he's able to transfer it over to some of the new guys, which is invaluable, especially with how many new players we have this year."
 
Much has been made of the influx of talent on the MSU Denver roster – only Cortes Zotes, forward Jaryn Taylor (Yucaipa, Calif./Yucaipa) and center Cain van Heyningen (Amsterdam, Netherlands/Open schoolgemeenschap Bijlmer) had ever played for the Roadrunners before this season. The future looks bright. But the future is now for Cortes Zotes.
 
"We want to be competitive now, and feel we can be competitive now," Bahl said. "The future will take care of itself, and we are 100 percent committed to this season and being the best we can be right now. With that said, Enrique plays a very big role in the future of our program because he is tasked with showing and leading our new players. He plays an even bigger role in where we are right now, and where we want to take this team this year."
 
Said Cortes Zotes: "We have a really good young team. Next year, they're going to be great. At the end of the day it's about getting the young guys a lot of minutes and making them the best players they can be. Even though I'm going to be gone, I'm excited about next year.
 
"It's all about winning. I'm a senior and I want to play, but if I'm having a bad game and a freshman is playing well, I'm cool with (not playing as much). I really respect all the work those guys have put in, and the way they are playing."
 
After last year's team was a senior-laden group, Cortes Zotes is one of just two on this year's roster.
 
"He leads by example," Bahl said. "He'll show you how it's done. I've never once in four years ever questioned how hard he plays. Even as a freshman he always competed. That's why Saturday wasn't surprising."
 
The Roadrunners (1-2) have their sights set on this Saturday's 6 p.m. matchup at Chadron State (2-4) in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opener. The Eagles were just 3-25 overall and 1-21 in the RMAC last season, and they were picked to finish 15^th this season, but they do have two wins already and played close games with against both Sioux Falls (S.D.) – which is receiving votes in national polls – and then-No. 18 Northern State (S.D.).
 
"After the game Saturday, we were already talking about it," Cortes Zotes said. "We've got to start the conference 1-0. Then we go game by game. Try to put a winning streak together. We had a really good win Saturday, and now we want to build on it.
 
"It's a tough place to play. They've got their student body there, and their band. It's a good atmosphere. Packed house and Metro State is coming."
 
Chadron State is led by Denver native Michael Sparks at 15.5 points per game (and 45.9-percent 3-point shooting) and 6-5 senior Jeremy Ruffin (9.0 points, 7.3 rebounds).
 
"They're always a tough matchup," Bahl said. "(Chadron State coach) Houston Reed is a blue-collar guy. Those kids are going to play extremely hard and defend at a high level. They won't beat themselves. That place is a tough environment, and our guys haven't played on the road. We've got our work cut out for us."

Sounds like they could use a handyman.