Welsh Notches First Double-Double of Season Against Skyhawks
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Despite the best efforts of true freshmen Derrick White and Alex Welsh, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs could not fend off the Fort Lewis Skyhawks in a 69-72 loss Friday night at the Gallogly Events Center.
Notwithstanding the loss, UCCS looked like a new team under first year head coach Jeff Culver.
What ultimately doomed the Mountain Lions was an inability to connect from 3-point land and the free-throw line, where they shot 21.4-percent and 57.1-percent respectively.
The freshman White however didn't take long to feel at home in the friendly confines of Gallogly as he finished the first-half with 16 points.
Unfortunately foul trouble and turnovers (White committed eight) made it hard to play the Parker, Colo. native in the second-half. That said, growing pains are to be expected of the youngster.
Welsh collected the first double-double of his career and the first double-double for UCCS on the young season, hauling in 13 rebounds to go with 16 points.
A 36-30 lead at halftime quickly evaporated for the Mountain Lions as they were outscored 42-33 in the second-half.
The second-half was tight till the very end with a clutch Jake Darby floater making the score 66-67 with 25 seconds remaining. However, a costly technical foul charged to the Mountain Lions on the Skyhawks gave Fort Lewis an opportunity to extend its one point lead to three at 66-69 making it an uphill battle the rest of the way for UCCS.
Alex Koehlor made a late 3-pointer to make it 69-70 but a pair of free throws by Marcus Ayala got the lead back up to three but UCCS could not find the range on there final possession as a desperation 3-pointer by White fell short.
Nick Tomsick and Alex Herrera led the way for the Skyhawks with 21 and 20 points respectively. Tomsick couldn't miss from long range going 3-of-4, while Herrera pulled in eight rebounds.
UCCS is now 0-5 (0-1 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) while Fort Lewis is 4-0 (1-0 RMAC).
UCCS Players/Staff Featured | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Alex Welsh | 25 | F | Fr |
 | Jake Darby | 11 | G | Jr |
 | Alex Koehler | 22 | G | R-So |
| Additional News Stories | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2, 2013 |  | White Sets Free Throw Season Record at #2 Metro | The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team lead second-ranked Metro State by as many as six points in the first half, but the Roadrunners (24-2 / 20-2 RMAC) used a strong second half in an 98-80 decision tonight against the Mountain Lions (5-21 / 5-17 RMAC) at the Auraria Events Center in downtown Denver. |
| March 2, 2013 |  | UCCS Closes Out 2012-13 Season Tonight | After the seventh game decided by three points of less last night, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (5-20 / 5-16 RMAC) men's basketball team will take on RMAC regular season champion Metro State (23-2 / 19-2 RMAC) tonight at 7 p.m. at the Auraria Events Center in downtown Denver. |
| March 1, 2013 |  | Mountain Lions Fall in Final Minute at Regis | The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team finished with four Mountain Lions as the Mountain Lions (5-20 / 5-16 RMAC) fell 80-79 to Regis (10-14 / 9-13 RMAC) tonight at the Regis Fieldhouse. |
| March 1, 2013 |  | White Goes for Free Throw Record This Weekend | University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball freshman Derrick White begins the final weekend of the season nine free throws away from tying the all-time program record as the Mountain Lions (5-19 / 5-15 RMAC) take on Regis (5-21 / 2-20 RMAC) tonight at the Regis Fieldhouse. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. |
| February 23, 2013 |  | Another close loss sends UCCS back on road to finish season | The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (5-19 / 4-17 RMAC) battled till the very end but it was not enough against Black Hills State University (6-19 / 5-16 RMAC) as they lost 62-65 at the Gallogly Events Center. |
 |  |  |  |