It was a quick trip to Denver for the Northern Eagles.
Northern left immediately after their Tuesday home game, a narrow loss to Western Colorado.
They arrived in Denver at about 4:30 a.m. and went back home the following day.
Northern New Mexico College traveled to Division I University of Denver, and lost on Wednesday 90-57. The program gained further experience playing against top-level teams.
“I’m proud,” said Northern coach and athletic director Jesus Aragon. “Everything has been a learning process for us. The season was planned like that, for the first 10, 12 games, really tough games.”
Aragon sees many benefits from playing Division I schools (four are on Northern’s schedule). Not the list of which is some extra cash for the athletic department — Denver paid $6,500 for the privilege of hosting the game.
“The second (benefit) is we produce the level of intensity and the energy to compete against a higher D-I level, where not everyone has the opportunity to do it,” Aragon said. “The experience and learning process that it takes to bring you all the way here and compete in these great arenas.”
Through the game, Northern was actually good on rebounds. They outrebounded the Pioneers, and grabbed 22 offensive rebounds, though those led to only 17 second-chance points. And that led to 15 more shots than Denver took.
But Northern struggled heavily on shooting. They made just 27 percent of their shots, compared to 50 percent by Denver. At one point in the first half, Denver had made more than three-quarters of their shots, while Northern was under one quarter. They had many shots from near the basket that did not connect. The Eagles missed 58 shots in the game, almost as many as Denver took total (64).
Denver benefited by shutting down Northern’s star shooter Eloy Medina, who made his first shot then missed his other eight. Medina has had a winding road; he graduated from West Mesa and joined University of New Mexico’s team as a walk-on. Then, he went to Bakersfield, Calif. before returning to New Mexico.
“He’s been a great kid for us,” Aragon said. “It’s filling my expectations, and everything is going beautiful for him, and for us.”
The Eagles had the hot start to the game. Nico Majuec scored the first points, and were up 7-4. But they gave up the lead four minutes in, and Denver would lead the rest of the way.
Denver went on a 24-3 run, including 16 straight points broken only by a goaltending call. By halftime, Denver led 48-26. And they outscored Northern 42-31 in the second half, leading by as many as 39 points.
Nigel Quaynor led the Eagles with a double double — 12 points (on 4-of-12 shooting) and 12 rebounds. For a Division I game, the crowd was light over the school’s winter break. Official attendance was 479.
A week earlier, the Eagles nearly defeated New Mexico State, losing 76-71, and led with six minutes remaining. They nearly pulled off what would have been a historic upset.
Northern’s next game comes on Dec. 29 against University of the Southwest. In the new year, they will face conference competition, where they hope to qualify for the conference tournament and from there make it to the national tournament.
“I just want all these games and this experience help us to be more intelligent,” Aragon said.