SALT LAKE CITY – Hot-shooting Westminster hit 52.4 percent from the field and MSU Denver was unable to keep pace Saturday night as the Roadrunners fell 80-55 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference men's basketball.
 
MSU Denver (12-3 overall, 6-3 RMAC), on the heels of Friday's thrilling, buzzer-beating overtime win at Colorado Mesa, and overnight road trip that saw the players get to bed around 4:30 a.m., still jumped out to a 13-7 lead.

But Westminster scored the next 11 points to move in front. MSU Denver tied the game 22-22, but Westminster used a quick 6-0 burst late in the half for a 38-31 lead and led 38-32 at the break.
 
Then the Griffins opened the second half with a 15-5 run and MSU Denver couldn't recover. The Roadrunners shot just 27.3 percent from the field in the second half and a season-low 33.3 percent overall.
 
"We just ran out of gas emotionally and physically," MSU Denver coach Michael Bahl said. "It's a very difficult road trip, and we didn't get into Salt Lake City until 3:45 a.m. this morning. After the game we had in Grand Junction … we just ran out of gas.
 
"I have to do a better job as a coach to get us prepared for these back-to-backs. Every school in the conference has the same issues in regards to travel, so there isn't any time for excuses."
 
The Griffins' shooting percentage was the best by an MSU Denver opponent this season.
 
Two of MSU Denver's three losses this season have come to the Griffins (8-8, 6-4).
 
Tyrei Randall led MSU Denver with 13 points, and Ra'Shawn Langston added 10. Laolu Oke had six points, nine reobunds, three assists and four steals. Chandler Bevans hit two 3-pointers for his MSU Denver best of six points in nine second-half minutes.
 
"I love my team, and love who we are and what we're about," Bahl said. "Tonight just wasn't our night."