UCCS (2-3) vs. Colorado School of Mines (3-3) | Saturday, Dec. 1 | 7:30 p.m. | Live Stats | Video  

THIS WEEK
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team will open the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference season at home this weekend against travel partner Colorado School of Mines.  Tip-off in Gallogly Events Center is set for 7:30 p.m.
 
PROMOTIONS
The first 200 fans to Saturday's doubleheader basketball games will receive a free black beanie that features the Mountain Lion logo on one side, and the Ent Credit Union logo on the other side.  The women's game tips-off at 5:30 p.m. against the Orediggers, followed by the men's game.
 
Ent Credit Union is sponsoring two halftime events Saturday evening.  At halftime of the women's game, two lucky fans will be selected to compete in a halftime free throw contest.  The fan that makes the most free throws in 30 seconds will receive an Apple watch.
 
At halftime of the men's game, a UCCS student will be randomly selected to compete in a contest (details cannot be revealed). If the person is successful in completing the challenge, he or she will win $100,000 from Ent Credit Union. 

ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN LIONS
The Mountain Lions are coming off a 106-64 home-opening win, defeating Colorado College Monday night.  Against CC, Padiet Wang led UCCS with 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists.  He stole the ball seven times from the Tigers, helping the Mountain Lions force 29 CC turnovers.  Brandon Malone and Isaiah Wilson each netted 13 points.  Wilson added five steals and three assists.  Blend Avdili chipped in 12 points, three rebounds four assists, two steals and a blocked shot.  Avdili made 4-of-5 field goals and all four free throw attempts.  Ian MacDonald was near perfect from the floor, sinking 5-of-6 field goals, including 1-of-2 from long range.  Thirty-two of the Mountain Lions points came from the fast break, while over half of their points (64) came from inside the paint.
  
Monday's win improves UCCS to 2-3 on the season and gives head coach Jeff Culver his 99^th win at UCCS.
 
The Mountain Lions are tops in the league in steals per game (11.6), steals (58), turnover margin (4.6) and turnovers forced (21.0 per game).  UCCS' 11.6 steals per game and 21.0 turnovers forced per game are the eighth most in Division II.
 
Wang is one of the top defenders in the league.  His 3.4 steals per game are the fifth most in Division II and the most in the league. 
 
Three Mountain Lions are averaging double-digits in scoring, led by Elijah Ross' 15 points per game.  Wang is adding 11.6 points and Avidili is scoring 10.8 points per game. 
 
Brandon Malone has hit eight three points this season and is shooting at a .364 clip from long range. 
 
UCCS is outscoring their opponents by an average of 3.2 points per game, while shooting 43.5 percent from the floor (137-315) and 25 percent from three-point range (31-124).

SCOUTING COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES
Colorado School of Mines closed the preseason with a 3-3 overall record. Last weekend the Orediggers gained two home wins over NAIA teams Kansas Wesleyan (W, 87-52) and Haskell Indian Nations (W, 95-69).
 
The Orediggers are blocking 6.0 shots per game to lead the RMAC.  Mines also holds their opponents to a league-best 64.8 points per game.  Offensively, the Orediggers are averaging 72.7 points per game and shooting 43.5 percent from the floor and 35.7 percent from long distance. 
 
Ben Sonnefeld leads the Orediggers with 14.2 points per game and 26 assists.  Mason Baker has accounted for eight blocks this season, while Michael Glen cleans the glass for CSM with 7.3 rebounds per game.
  
HEAD COACH JEFF CULVER
Jeff Culver, who led UCCS to its first RMAC championship in program history, is in his seventh season as the Head Coach at UCCS in 2018-19. He's coached the only NBA Draft pick and the only All-Americans in program history in the past six years.

Culver was the only four-year head coach to offer Derrick White a scholarship out of high school, and he would become a two-time All-American and the No. 29 pick by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2017 NBA Draft. White played with Alex Welsh, the other All-American in program history, and the two hold the top spots in the UCCS career scoring records.

Culver came to UCCS after a seven-year career at Johnson & Wales, where he also doubled as athletic director for the final six years. As athletic director at Johnson & Wales, Culver led a $7 million renovation to campus athletic facilities.
 
UP NEXT
The Mountain Lions will head to the Western Slope Dec. 7-8.  UCCS will play at Colorado Mesa University on Friday, followed by Western State Colorado University on Saturday.