COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team will open the 2016-17 home season and take the opportunity to celebrate the anniversary of heroism by a member of the extended Mountain Lion family on Monday night, Nov. 28, at 7:30 p.m. UCCS (0-4) will welcome Colorado College (1-4) to the Gallogly Events Center to celebrate First Responders Appreciation Night in Honor of Officer Garrett Swasey.

Swasey was killed responding to an active shooter situation at an off-campus location on Nov. 27, 2015. He was frequently assigned to cover UCCS basketball games and would often be stationed at the end of the Mountain Lion bench. Representatives from the UCCS Police Department, Colorado Springs Police Department, Colorado Springs Fire Department, El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Colorado State Patrol and American Medical Response will participate in pregame activities on the floor to celebrate his bravery in his response to a mutual call for aid.

The Mountain Lions opened the home season last year in similar circumstances as the campus and community observed moments of silence before the game against Ottawa, approximately 24 hours after the standoff ended. Student-athletes from both teams wrote "GS" with permanent marker on athletic tape around their wrists, and members of the Mountain Lion team continued to do so in Swasey's memory the remainder of the season.

Admission to Monday's game will be free, but donations will be accepted for the Officer Garrett Swasey Scholarship Fund. Special UCCSSTRONG bracelets will also be sold in the lobby, with funds going to the Scholarship Fund.

UCCS will be looking to close out the nonconference season with a win after a one-point loss of 92-91 at Nebraska-Kearney on Wednesday night. TreShawn Wilford scored a career-high 32 points and made 11 rebounds, and is tied for fifth in the RMAC with seven rebounds per game. The Mountain Lions are leading the conference in the non-conference schedule with 4.3 blocked shots per game and second with 43 rebounds per game.

Monday's game will be the third game in a four-day span for Colorado College after the Tigers hosted the Rocky Mountain Thanksgiving Classic on Friday and Saturday.

Charlie Botnick and Mac Buckley will handle the commentary on the UCCS Athletic Network. Live video, audio and stats will be free, and the game will also be carried on the UCCS Men's Basketball Facebook page.