CHADRON, Neb. -- The Chadron State College basketball teams will make the long trip to New Mexico this weekend for more Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.  They'll play at New Mexico Highlands in Las Vegas on Friday night and visit Western New Mexico in Silver City on Saturday.

Both CSC teams are 3-6 in RMAC play and desperately need some wins if they are to contend for playoff berths.  This weekend's games will put all the teams at the halfway point in the conference schedule.

Although the Highlands men entered conference play with a 1-5 record, they are 7-2 in the RMAC, losing only to Colorado Christian and CSU-Pueblo.  Several Cowboys have racked up impressive statistics this season.  Jonathon Mines, a 6-4 senior, is averaging 20 points and 5.2 rebounds; Marlon Johnson, a 6-10 junior, is averaging 16.2 points and 8.3 rebounds; and Kendrick Nichols, a 6-3 senior, is averaging 15.7 points.  Both Mines and Nichols have made 40 three-pointers.

After the Highlands women won two non-conference games to open the season, they have lost 12 in a row and are 0-9 in the RMAC.  They have been outscored 17 points a game.  Their scoring leader is Michelle Traynham, a 5-11 junior who is averaging 14.2 points. She tallied 26 points last Saturday night when Western State of Colorado edged the Cowgirls 65-60 in Gunnison.

Each of the last two years, the CSC women have nipped the Cowgirls in high-scoring overtime games.  The Eagles won 102-99 in 2014 and 85-80 last season, when current CSC senior Allegria Chisom scored 25 points.  

The Western New Mexico women are 6-8 overall and 4-5 in the conference.  Desiree Smith is the scoring leader at 10.3 points a game. Guard Jordan Gutierrez poured in 29 points during a 71-60 setback at CSU-Pueblo on Saturday night.

The Mustangs' men are winless after 14 games this season, but three of their conference losses have been by just three points and two more were by six and seven. Their top scorer is Willie McCray, who is averaging 11 points.

Last year's trip to New Mexico was a tough one for the Chadron State men.  They lost 98-95 at Highlands and 78-76 at WNMU.