Hannaway sets scoring record in loss

Patrick Hannaway set a new University of Colorado at Colorado Springs record for points in a season but that wasn't enough to prevent to Mesa State Mavericks from defeating the Mountain Lions 68-56 Thursday night at Grand Junction.

Hannaway had a team-high 16 points to lead UCCS (5-21, 4-14 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference). He now has 516 points this season, breaking the previous record of 511 set by Jack Bain in 2003-04.

The loss put a dimmer on interim coach Doug Schakel's homecoming. Schakel coached Mesa State to 303 wins and six RMAC championships over 18 seasons.

The first half started with Mesa State being awarded with two free throws before the game even started when a UCCS player dunked during warmups. It ended with the Mavericks getting three free throws after Matt Cordova was whistled for a brush-by foul on Stephen Soriano's midcourt desperation shot.

The Mavericks quickly built a 15-5 lead. UCCS answered with a pair of free throws by Dan Deveau, jumpers by McGuire and Blessing and a 3-pointer by Hannaway to trim the deficit to 17-14 with 10:22 left in the half.

Mesa State would let them get no closer. The lead hovered in the three-to-seven-point range the rest of the half and was 33-26 at the break.

Unfortunately for the Mountain Lions, the relentlessness that has served them so well since Schakel arrived was forged at Mesa State. Each time UCCS slogged its way back, the Mavericks just as doggedly held them off. The Mountain Lions never got closer than eight the rest of the way.

Bly McGuire added 15 points for UCCS. Cody Blessing came off the bench to contribute 12 points on 4-for-5 shooting.

Andy Classick led Mesa State (18-8, 12-6 RMAC) with 18 points