Mountain Lions cooked by Johnson & Wales

Despite an amazing 46-point, 20-rebound effort from Jack Bain, the Mountain Lions lost 85-82 to Johnson & Wales Tuesday night, an NAIA school known mostly for its culinary arts program.

The Wildcats had exactly the right recipe for cooking the struggling Mountain Lions. Johnson & Wales forced 24 CU-Colorado Springs turnovers and shot lights out from 3-point range, making 13 of their 27 attempts. By night's end, the Mountain Lions were simmering over their own mistakes and an unconventionally officiated contest.

"We wanted to give ourselves a chance to win," said CU-Colorado Springs forward Stephon Hicks, who had eight points, including a 3-pointer that cut the lead to 80-78 with under two minutes remaining. "We knew that they were going to play all 40 minutes hard."

Bain followed Hicks' shot with a layup, tying the game at 80.

Ryan Moats answered Bain's shot with an off-balance 3-pointer to put the Wildcats up 83-80. Bain then tipped in a miss by Casey Gutting to cut the lead to one with 38 seconds left. Instead of fouling to put Johnson & Wales in a one-and-one situation at the free throw line, the Mountain Lions opted instead to turn up the defensive pressure.

"We wanted to play good defense and get the steal," said Hicks.

It worked. Jimmie Pack intercepted a pass and raced downcourt with a chance to give the Mountain Lions the lead. Instead, the fates interceded and Pack slipped, drawing a traveling call with 13 seconds left.

Ryuichi Brumley made two free throws with 11 seconds left to put Johnson & Wales up 85-82. Bain got Gutting open with a solid pick, but the 3-point attempt fell short. Bain's attempt to tip the ball back out went out of bounds off of Pack.

Gutting finished with 11 points for CU-Colorado Springs, which dominated inside for one of the first times this season. The Mountain Lions outrebounded Johnson & Wales 45-25.

Brumley led five Wildcats (5-15) in double figures with 22 points.

"We had played them once before and knew they were going to make a run at us," said Hicks, referring to a preseason scrimmage between the teams.That run turned into a roasting.