GUNNISON, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs opened the second half with a 15-4 run and held off Western State in the final minute as the Mountain Lions (7-10, 6-6 RMAC) earned the 91-89 win against the Mountaineers (4-12, 3-9 RMAC) in Paul Wright Gymnasium. Justin Smith recorded his second double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds while Elijah Ross scored 16 points with seven assists.

Blend Avdili added 14 points and Brandon Malone scored 11 with a pair of game-clinching free throws with 12.0 seconds to play. TreShawn Wilford grabbed nine rebound and Geoff Kelly secured eight as UCCS recorded 54 rebounds, the seventh-most in program history.

Both teams started slow on offense with only a 10-10 score after the first eight minutes of the game. Western State gradually opened a lead and led by 12 points at 37-25 with 4:41 left in the half before the Mountain Lions closed the gap and trailed by only five points, 46-41, at halftime. Avdili made a three-pointer at the buzzer and led UCCS with 10 points at the break.

Avdili's three-pointer led to the 15-4 start for the Mountain Lions in the second half as UCCS turned a five-point deficit into a six-point lead at 56-50 with 16:14 to remaining. The Mountain Lions led by as many as 12 points at 68-56 at the 10:53 mark, but Western State responded with a 9-2 run to cut the UCCS down to a possession at 70-67 with 7:16 to play. The Mountaineers made it a one-point game at 76-75 with 4:50 remaining, but UCCS regained a buffer on the scoreboard and Avdili made it a seven-point advantage at 84-77 on a layup with 2:32 to play.

Avdili kept it a seven-point lead after a pair of free throws with 1:10 to play, but Western State threatened with a three-pointer six seconds later to cut the advantage to 88-84. UCCS ran down the clock before attempting a layup with 43 seconds, but the shot was missed and Ian MacDonald was called for the foul on the rebound with 40 seconds to play. Ben Beauchamp converted on both free throws to cut the lead down to 88-86.

The Mountain Lions again ran the clock down, and a three-pointer at the top of the arc bounced off the rim and the Mountaineers recovered the rebound with 17 seconds to play. Western State was called for traveling with 13.0 seconds to play and the Mountaineers were forced to foul to stop the clock. UCCS went three-of-four at the free throw line in the final 12 seconds and Western State made a three-pointer as the time expired in the 91-89 decision.

UCCS will travel tonight to face Colorado Mesa in a 7:30 p.m., game on Saturday in Grand Junction, Colo. The Mavericks (4-14, 3-9 RMAC) defeated MSU Denver 69-67 tonight.