LAKEWOOD, Colo. – University of Colorado Colorado Springs junior guard Derrick White turned in the second-best scoring performance in program history with 44 points as the No. 8 Mountain Lions (15-2 / 9-2 RMAC) earned an 80-64 win at Colorado Christian (9-8 / 6-5 RMAC) tonight. Alex Welsh earned his fifth double-double of the season with 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

The Mountain Lions never trailed and opened an 18-8 lead in the first seven minutes of action. Colorado Christian rallied back with seven unanswered points to pull within three points at 18-15 and responded to each of the small UCCS runs to remain within four points at 37-33 with 1:43 to play in the half. The Mountain Lions used free throws to take a 41-33 advantage with four seconds left, but the Cougars made a pair of free throws with 0.2 seconds left in the half to make it a 41-35 UCCS lead at the break.

UCCS opened the second half on a 20-4 run, with 10 points in the rally from White, to lead 61-39 with 11:17 remaining. The Mountain Lions kept it at least a 13-point lead for the rest of the game to earn the 80-64 road win and snap a two-game losing skid.

White's 44 points is second in UCCS history only to Jack Bain's 46 points against Johnson & Wales on Feb. 17, 2004. White surpassed his old career high by six points and did so with a 13-of-22 performance from the field and 15-of-18 mark at the free throw line. He added seven rebounds, two assists and one steal and one blocked shot.

Welsh led both teams with 11 rebounds in his best rebounding performance since 14 against Western New Mexico on Dec. 20. He improved his career scoring total to 989 points tonight and is within 21 rebounds of third in program records with 477 career rebounds.

Darius Pardner added 10 points off the bench and led the Mountain Lions with two steals. 

UCCS is a game out of first place in the RMAC standings after Colorado Mines lost 80-71 to Colorado State-Pueblo tonight. The Mountain Lions' 15 wins this season is already tied for third in program records with 11 games left in the regular season.

UCCS will remain on the road for a Friday game at Black Hills State and a Saturday game at Chadron State.