The Arizona Western Matadors Men's Basketball team (8-2) dropped the first game of the Region 1/18 Challenge to Utah State-Eastern (7-2) 76-67 on Thursday afternoon in Ephraim, Utah despite 24 points from AJ Marmolejos.

Marmolejos hit three three-pointers and went 7-of-14 from the field while Matija Gledic finished the game as the Matadors' second-leading scorer with 13 points.

Utah State-Eastern opened the game on an 8-0 run before the Matadors answered with seven straight points from Matija Gledic to cut the deficit to 8-7. The Matadors took their first lead of the game on a Marmolejos layup to put the Matadors up 11-9. Arizona Western opened up a 17-13 lead, using a 17-5 run to build the advantage. The Matadors opened a six-point lead at 27-21 on a Matija Kustudic three-pointer but saw their lead trimmed to one point at halftime, 31-30.

The Golden Eagles took a 39-38 lead early in the second half before Gledic hit a three to put the Matadors back in front at 41-39. After Utah State-Eastern built another small lead, Gledic got the Matadors in front once more with another three to put the Matadors up 49-48. Utah State Eastern outscored the Matadors 46-36 in the second half to pull away.

Jannoy Thomas was the third Matador in double-figures, scoring 12 points and leading the team in assists with five.

The Matadors are back in action on Friday, December 1, taking on the hosts Snow College at 7:00 pm at the Horne Activity Center.