UCCS Takes on RMAC Newcomer Black Hills State Tonight

Live Video (America One Networks) | Live Audio (UCCS Radio)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The University of Colorado Colorado Springs can make strides to an RMAC Shootout appearance when the Mountain Lions (2-13 / 2-9 RMAC) take on Black Hills State (4-11 / 3-8 RMAC) tonight in Spearfish, S.D. Tip-off from the Young Center is set for 7:30 p.m.

A win for UCCS would the Mountain Lions tied in the standings with the Yellow Jackets, and put a postseason appearance within reach. Three of the next four games for the Mountain Lions feature teams immediately ahead of UCCS in the standings and could provide the push to qualify for the RMAC tournament in early March.

It's the first meeting between the two teams as conference members and the first since the teams played a home-and-home series in the 2009-10 season. The Yellow Jackets were still NAIA members and announced the move to NCAA Division II in the summer of 2010. Black Hills State was accepted into the RMAC in May 2011 and took the place of Nebraska-Kearney in the summer of 2012.

UCCS, the top rebounding team in the RMAC with 41 rebounds per conference game, has held a rebounding advantage in two of the last four games and hasn't been outrebounded in three of the last four games. In the 11 conference games, the Mountain Lions have outrebounded their opponents in eight games. In the other three games, the teams tied in their rebounding once (Colorado Christian) and the margin has been two or fewer in the other two games (CSU-Pueblo, Colorado Mines).

The strong rebounding numbers have been balanced throughout the team, with four Mountain Lions averaging four rebounds or more this season. Alex Koehler leads the group with six boards per game, and his 51 defensive rebounds during the RMAC season ranks eighth in the conference.

Derrick White has led the Mountain Lion offense in seven of the last eight games and is the top conference freshman with 16.7 points per game. He's scored at least 10 points in the last eight games and scored at least 20 points four times between Dec. 14 and Jan. 18.

UCCS will wear it's white uniforms tonight, instead of the tradition black road uniforms, in conjunction with Black Hills State's "Green Out" event tonight. Head Coach Jeff Culver will also wear his sneakers tonight, instead of the traditional dress shoes, in support of the Coaches vs. Cancer "Suits and Sneakers" weekend.

Fans can follow tonight's game through live video streaming on America One Networks and through audio streaming by UCCS Radio. Live stat links have not been made available for tonight's games, but fans can check at BHSUAthletics.com near game time if links are posted later today.