UCCS' seventh straight loss a heartbreaker
COLORADO SPRINGS- Bly McGuire's off balance jumper at the buzzer fell short as the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs dropped its seventh straight game, a 76-74 heartbreaker to the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers Saturday night at the Lions' Den.
The Mountain Lions (14-11, 7-10 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) trailed by three with 5.2 seconds remaining when Mines coach Pryor Orser had his team intentionally foul, making a 3-point attempt impossible. It was the second consecutive UCCS possession that Orser had used the tactic.
Nic Fuller made the first free throw and then missed the second one intentionally. McGuire tipped the ball out to the right wing, chased down the ball and launched an off-balance, turnaround 17 footer that glanced off the front rim.
Despite the prolonged skid, the Mountain Lions are still have a chance to claim a spot in the RMAC playoffs. UCCS is currently tied with Colorado Christian and Western New mexico for the eighth and final spot. UCCS has home games against Nebraska-Kearney and Chadron State remaining, while Colorado Christian plays Metro State at home and Colorado Mines on the road. Western New Mexico has home games against Colorado State-Pueblo and Adams State remaining.
Fuller led five Mountain Lions in double figures with 17 points and also added five assists. Kyle Perkins matched his career high with 15 points, while Patrick Hannaway and McGuire added 13 points each and Joe Scott had 10.
Ian Elseth led the Orediggers (14-11, 8-9 RMAC) with 19 points, while Kyle Pape added 17.
The Mountain Lions trailed 51-35 with 16:30 remaining but, energized by 10 points by Perkins, went on a 19-4 run over the next six minutes to cut the deficit to one. Two free throws by Fuller gave UCCS its first lead, 61-60, with 6:54 remaining.
UCCS Players/Staff Featured | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Bly McGuire | 33 | C | Sr. |
| Bly McGuire | 33 | C | Sr. |
 | Kyle Perkins | 21 | F | Fr. |
 | Kyle Perkins | 21 | F | So. |
| Additional News Stories | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| October 22, 2007 |  | Lions help kick off Red Ribbon Week at CSDB | There are times when sight and sound are definitely overrated. |
| September 27, 2007 |  | UCCS men picked fourth in preseason poll | After qualifying for their second playoff berth in school history in the 2006-07 season, the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs men's basketball team was chosen to finish fourth in the East Division in the annual Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. |
| May 30, 2007 |  | Hannaway named RMAC Scholar-Athlete | Patrick Hannaway was named the RMAC male Scholar-Athletes of the year for the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, the conference announced Wednesday. |
| May 10, 2007 | Caton Signs California Shooter | Having already signed five players, the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs men's basketball coach made it a six pack by adding Jared Giammona, a 6-foot-1 guard from Santa Rosa, Calif. | |
| May 2, 2007 | | Hannaway awarded postgraduate scholarship | Patrick Hannaway became the first University of Colorado at Colorado Springs student-athlete to be awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. |
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