SALT LAKE CITY –
Alex Welsh recorded his sixth 20-point game of the season with a game-high 25 as the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (5-5, 2-1 RMAC) handed Westminster its first loss of the season in an 81-68 victory tonight at Behnken Field House.
Dalton Patten added another 19 points a night after his career-high performance at Colorado Mesa.
The Mountain Lions never trailed this weekend and opened tonight with a 9-2 run against the Griffins (6-1, 2-1 RMAC). Westminster tied the game at 16-16 and again at 18-18 and 20-20 before UCCS scored the next seven points for the 27-20 advantage. The Mountain Lions shot 56 percent from the field and the three-point line in the first half for a 45-35 halftime lead.
UCCS opened the second half with a 10-2 run for a 55-37 advantage. Westminster scored nine straight points during a three-minute stretch midway through the half to cut the Mountain Lion lead down to seven at 61-54, but never got closer as UCCS claimed the road conference win.
Welsh shot 10-of-15 from the field in his third 60 percent shooting performance this season and provided five assists with five rebounds. Patton went two-of-two at the three-point line and six-of-10 overall to average 23.5 points this weekend.
Kendall Godley led both teams with eight rebounds and scored 14 points while
TreShawn Wilford rounded out the top Mountain Lion scorers with 11 points. He added seven rebounds, five assists and five steals.
UCCS has shot better than 50 percent from the field for the last six games and finished with 53.6 percent tonight. The Mountain Lions posted a 14-rebound advantage tonight and have outrebounded opponents for eight straight games.
The Mountain Lions will return home next weekend before the start of the holiday break with a Dec. 18, game against Regis and a Dec. 19, game against Chadron State. Both games will begin at 7:30 p.m., at the Gallogly Events Center.
