COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - University of Colorado Colorado Springs true freshman Padiet Wang scored a team-high 15 points in his first collegiate home game to lead the Mountain Lions (1-4) to a 74-63 win against Colorado College (1-5) at the Gallogly Events Center. He went five-of-six from the field with a three-pointer and made a team-high four steals on defense.

A 9-2 run midway through the first half put UCCS ahead at 16-15 with eight minutes, 35 seconds left, and used another 12-2 rally to build a 29-21 advantage with 5:01 to play. The Mountain Lions made four straight three-pointers at one stretch during the half and shot 43 percent from beyond the arc to lead the Tigers 39-29 at halftime.

Colorado College opened the second half on an 11-2 run to cut the UCCS lead down to 41-40 with 14:37 to play, but the Mountain Lions scored on the next four possessions to rebuild a seven-point lead at 48-41 with 12 minutes left. UCCS gradually opened a 20-point lead with four minutes to play at 67-47 before Colorado College clipped it down to an eight-point advantage with one minute to play.  The Mountain Lions converted on six of their final eight free throws in the final minute to secure the win and the second straight victory in the all-time series.

Justin Smith scored 10 of 12 points in the second half to lead the bench. Brandon Malone scored a season-high 13 points. Blend Avdili scored nine points and led the Mountain Lions with seven rebounds as UCCS out-rebounded Colorado College 48-41.

The Mountain Lions will remain at home to start the RMAC schedule on Friday in a 7:30 p.m., game against Black Hills State. The Yellow Jackets (3-3) have won their last three games.