UCCS is defeated by Central Washington

NAMPA, Idaho â€" Despite career-highs by Alex Snyder and Chris Fernandez the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs menâ€^TMs basketball team fell 93-74 to the Central Washington Wildcats in the first game of the Shilo Inn & Suites Classic Friday evening at Johnson Sports Center.

After playing only four minutes this season, Snyder had a career-high seven points and three assists and logged 24 minutes against the Wildcats. Fernandez got his career-high 10 points by shooting a perfect 3-for-3 on the floor.

Down by eight with 4:28 remaining in the first half the Mountain Lions went on a12-4 run that included five points from Frank McCollum and four from Nick Weaver to put UCCS a head 38-37.

With two fouls and three made free-throws by Central Washington the Mountain Lions ended the half down 41-38.

UCCS shot a respectable 53.6 percent from the field and 50.0 percent behind the arc in the first half, but only shot 40.0 percent in the second half both from the floor and long-range.

Despite four ties and eight lead changes in the first half, the Mountain Lions never got a lead in the second half.

The tone was set from the beginning of the second half when the Wildcats went on a 16-5 run to give UCCS a 14 point deficit.

UCCS countered with two field-goals to put them within 10, but that was as close as they would get.

Central Washington went on to get their largest lead of the game with 24 points with less then four minutes remaining in the game.

Nick Weaver led the Mountain Lions with 17 points. McCollum added 11 points and had a team-high nine rebounds and four steals.

The Wildcats were led by Matt Penoncello and Jake Beitinger who both had 16 points. Penoncello also had a team-high seven rebounds.

With the loss UCCS fell to 0-6, while Central Washington moved to 3-1.