Late Rally Falls Short at Colorado Christian

LAKEWOOD, Colo. - The University of Colorado Colorado Springs pulled back within eight points late in the game, after going down by 17 points early in the second half, but the late push came short as the Mountain Lions (2-13 / 2-9 RMAC) fell 80-68 to Colorado Christian (7-12 / 2-9 RMAC) tonight in the Cougar Event Center.

UCCS trailed by as many as nine points during the first half, but fought back to lead by a point with 12 seconds left in the half after a pair of free throws from Derrick White. The Mountain Lions held the Cougars to 11 percent from the three-point line, below CCU's average of 31 percent.

Alex Welsh scored on the first possession of the second half for UCCS, but Colorado Christian scored the next 18 points to take a 47-30 lead with 16:39 left in the game. The Mountain Lions pulled to within nine points with 11 minutes left in the half on back-to-back layups from Brandon Applehans and Jordan Carter.

A six-point run brought UCCS within eight points with 75 seconds remaining, but Colorado Christian connected on free throws in the final minute to secure the 80-68 decision.

Welsh led the scoring for the Mountain Lions with 15 points and went seven-of-10 from the field, while White finished with 12 points and seven-of-eight at the free-throw line. Alex Koehler brought down eight rebounds to help UCCS out-rebound Colorado Christian tonight.

The Mountain Lions' 43 percent from the field was the best since the Downtown Classic against Colorado State-Pueblo on Jan. 5.

Up Next: The Mountain Lions travel to RMAC newcomer Black Hills State for a Friday night game in Spearfish, S.D.