COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs erased a 14-point deficit with 12 minutes to play and tied Colorado School of Mines four times in the final seven minutes, but couldn't take the lead as the Orediggers claimed a 90-84 decision tonight in the Gallogly Events Center.
Kendall Godley scored 18 points and
Shane Jensen led the bench with a career-high 16.
The Mountain Lions led by six points midway through the first half and kept Colorado Mines from making a field goal for a three-minute stretch to build the lead. The teams went back and forth and changed the lead three times in the next two minutes before the Orediggers gradually expanded a lead and took a 48-38 lead at halftime.
Dalton Patten matched the game high at the break with 10 points.
Colorado Mines took its 14-point lead at 65-51 with 11:53 and
Blend Avdili sparked the Mountain Lions comeback on the next possession. He made two of three straight three-pointers for UCCS that cut the lead down to 65-60 in a 62-second span. The teams traded jumpers before Malone's three-pointer cut the margin down to two points at 67-65. Malone connected on another three-pointer to make it a one-point Oredigger lead at 69-68 with 8:26 to play.
Godley drew a foul when he drove to the basket and tied the game for the first time in the second half at 72-72 when he made both free throws with 6:42 to play. Jensen tied it again at 78-78 with a three-pointer with 4:22 to play and
Alex Welsh tied it again at 80-80 with free throws 29 seconds later, but the Mountain Lion shooting cooled and UCCS made only one field goal the rest of the game in the 90-84 loss.
Godley went five-of-six at the free throw line in his sixth straight game with at least 10 points and his third in the last four games with at least 15 points. Jensen scored five points past his previous career-best and was seven-of-eight with two 3-pointers.
Malone scored 13 and Patten added 12 to round out the top scorers. Welsh moved alone into second in UCCS career rebounds with a game-high 11 and needs 58 to tie the record.
The Mountain Lions will finish a four-game home stretch on Saturday in a 7:30 p.m., game against Colorado Christian. The Cougars (7-9, 3-7 RMAC) lost to MSU Denver 66-62 earlier tonight.
