COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. –
Brandon Malone scored 20 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, but a fast start for the University of Colorado Colorado Springs wouldn't hold in a 73-71 loss to Colorado College tonight in exhibition action at the Gallogly Events Center.
Elijah Ross added 17 points with a team-high four assists.
UCCS took an early 20-2 lead in the first seven minutes of the game, but the Tigers gradually chipped into the Mountain Lion with a 13-3 run, a 9-2 rally and the final 10 points of the half to take a 44-40 advantage against UCCS at halftime. Both teams shot greater than 45 percent from the field and 40 percent from the three-point line in the first period.
The Mountain Lions kept Colorado College within a 10-point margin and made it a one-possession game at 53-51 with 15:15 to play after a three-pointer from
Isaiah Wilson. The Tigers scored the next seven points to rebuild a 60-51 lead and would lead by at least six points until UCCS put together eight unanswered points and made it a 66-64 game with 4:53 to play.
The Mountain Lions tied the game at 71-71 with 55 seconds to play at the end of a seven-point run and the Tigers took the lead again at 73-71 with 23 seconds left. A missed UCCS layup that went out of bounds created an inbound play for Colorado College, when the Mountain Lions quickly fouled to stop the clock with 16 seconds to play. The Tigers missed the first free throw of a one-and-one situation, but UCCS missed the go-ahead three-pointer on its final possession in the two-point loss to Colorado College.
Malone went seven-for-13 from the field and six-for-10 at the three-point line. Ross went five-for-nine from the field, three-for-six from the three-point line and a perfect four-for-four at the free throw line for his 16 points.
Justin Smith and Wilson scored nine and eight points, respectively, for the Mountain Lions.
UCCS will open the 2017-18 regular season next weekend at the Texan Tip-Off Classic, hosted by Tarleton State in Stephenville, Texas. The Mountain Lions open with Angelo State on Friday, Nov. 10, before a matchup with the host Texans on Saturday, Nov. 11.
