KEARNEY, Neb. –
TreShawn Wilford scored a career-high 32 points and led both teams with 11 rebounds as the University of Colorado Colorado Springs fell in a 92-91 contest to the University of Nebraska-Kearney at the UNK Health and Sports Center.
Elijah Ross scored 12 points to lead the bench.
The game featured 10 ties and six lead changes among 58 combined fouls and 83 free throw attempts. Wilford went 11-of-13 at the free throw line to compliment his 10-of-18 performance from the field.
Nebraska-Kearney opened a 29-21 lead with six minutes, two seconds, left in the first half before the Mountain Lions put together a 10-0 run to take a 31-29 lead with 3:33 to play in the period. UCCS held a 38-37 halftime lead with 11 points from Wilford.
The Lopers opened a 10-point lead at 56-46 in the first six minutes of the second half, but UCCS used a 10-2 run later in the half to tie the game at 67-67 with 8:37 to play. Nebraska-Kearney reopened an eight-point advantage at 87-79 with 2:19 left and led by six with 38 seconds to play. Wilford grabbed the offensive rebound and made the layup to make it a four-point game at 89-85 with 29 seconds left, and the Lopers only converted on one of the two free throws to make it a 90-85 game with 22 seconds to play.
Ross used a layup four seconds later and converted on the and-one opportunity to pull UCCS within two points at 90-88. Nebraska-Kearney converted on both free throws to push the lead back to two possessions and a three-pointer by
Brandon Malone at the buzzer made it only a one-point loss at 92-91.
Wilford's previous career-high was 18 points in his freshman season of 2013-14, and added two steals on defense to lead the team.
Blend Avdili scored 10 points and finished one rebound away from the double-double while
Ed Bourke made four blocked shots. The Mountain Lions out-rebounded the Lopers 49-38 in the largest rebounding margin since Jan. 29, 2016.
UCCS will open the home season on Monday with a 7:30 p.m., game against Colorado College at the Gallogly Events Center. The game will be the First Responders Appreciation Night in Honor of Officer Garrett Swasey.
