SPEARFISH, S.D. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team overcame a 16-point deficit in the second half and a layup from Elijah Ross with 2.1 seconds left in the overtime lifted the Mountain Lions (10-12, 9-8 RMAC) to a 79-77 victory against Black Hills State (7-17, 4-14 RMAC) tonight in the Donald E. Young Center. Justin Smith finished with his third double-double of the season and Blend Avdili led the Mountain Lions with 16 points.

Black Hills State shot 64 percent from the three-point line and 55 percent overall in the first half to build a 43-31 lead against UCCS. The Yellow Jackets extended their advantage to 16 points at 50-34 three minutes into the second half.

UCCS responded with an 11-0 run to cut the Yellow Jacket lead down to five points at 53-48 with 12 minutes to play. The rally was part of a larger 19-4 stretch that pulled the Mountain Lions within one point at 57-56 with seven minutes remaining. Black Hills State gradually stretched its lead to five points at 64-59 with 2:34 to play before a jumper Brandon Malone sparked a seven-point rally to put UCCS in the lead 66-64 with 31 seconds to play.

Black Hills State brought the ball down, and a foul against Padiet Wang with 16.1 seconds to play set up an inbound play for the Yellow Jackets. Wang was able to knock the ball loose with seven seconds to play, but the Yellow Jackets were able to maintain possession and draw a foul on a shot with 1.2 seconds to play. Zach McLemore made both free throws to tie the game at 66-66 and force overtime. It marked the second straight overtime game for the Mountain Lions after last night's win at South Dakota Mines.

Wang stole the ball and made the one-handed dunk to open overtime for UCCS, and a layup from Smith pushed the Mountain Lion lead to 70-66 with 3:05 left in overtime. Black Hills State tied the game at 70-70 on its next two possessions, but Ross made a three-pointer with 1:28 to play to put UCCS back in the lead at 73-70.

A missed three-pointer from Black Hills State with 64 seconds left, and a rebound by Malone, provided an opportunity for UCCS to increase its lead to two possessions in the final minute. The Mountain Lions ran down the clock, and Smith drew a foul with 38.8 seconds remaining to head to the free throw line. He made both to push the lead to 75-70, but the Yellow Jackets responded with a three-pointer 6.4 seconds later to cut the lead down to 75-73.

Geoff Kelly was fouled as the Mountain Lions took the ball down the court, and he converted on both attempts to make it a 77-73 UCCS lead with 26.2 seconds to play. The Yellow Jackets moved quickly down the court, made a three-pointer and drew the foul to set up a four-point play with 15.9 seconds to play. Black Hills State made the free throw to tie the game at 77-77.

UCCS didn't have a timeout remaining, and inbounded the ball to Ross, who went the length of the court to put the Mountain Lions back ahead at 79-77 with 2.1 seconds to play. Black Hills State used its final timeout of overtime to set up the inbound play, but a desperation shot near the half court line went off the left side of the backboard in the second straight overtime win for UCCS.

Smith finished with 14 points and a season-high 12 rebounds. Avdili went six-of-14 from the field, two-of-four from the three-point line and two-of-two at the free throw line for his 16 points, and made eight rebounds of defense. Wang scored 10 points and Ross scored nine with eight rebounds and a team-high three assists.

UCCS will return to Colorado Springs for the final home weekend of the regular season Feb. 10-11. The Mountain Lions host Regis (14-7, 8-7 RMAC) on Friday and Chadron State (2-19, 2-15 RMAC) on Saturday.