College Basketball

Mavs picked third in RMAC West

The Mesa State College men’s basketball team is picked to finish third in the RMAC West Division and the women sixth in a poll of conference coaches.

Jase Herl, a 6-foot-3 senior guard, was selected to the men’s preseason All-West team, along with DeAndre Lansdowne of Fort Lewis, the preseason conference player of the year, Roman Andrade, Chris Dunn and Rashad Peterson of New Mexico Highlands.

Highlands was the overwhelming favorite to win the West Division, with Fort Lewis second. Metro State is again favored to win the East Division, followed by Colorado Christian and Nebraska-Kearney. Highlands is favored to win the overall RMAC title, with the Mavs picked to finish fourth behind Metro and Fort Lewis.

The women’s preseason player of the year is Allison Rosel of Fort Lewis. None of the Mavs received preseason honors. Mesa State is picked to finish 13th overall in the conference. Fort Lewis is picked to win the West Division and the RMAC title, with Colorado School of Mines favored in the East and to be the RMAC runner-up.