DURANGO, Colo. – Senior guard Elijah Ross and the University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team overcame a double-digit deficit Friday night at Fort Lewis College, handing the Skyhawks a 100-99 loss at home.
 
During the second half comeback, Ross recorded an assist to Blend Avdili with 4:24 left in the game to tie Derrick White as the UCCS all-time assists leader.  Ross and White each have 343 career assists for UCCS.
 
The win improves UCCS to 9-5 on the season and 6-2 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.  This is the third time this season UCCS has reached the century mark.  FLC drops to 7-7 overall and 2-6 in league games.
 
Despite shooting 50 percent from the floor in the first half, the Mountain Lions trailed by as many as 20 points and were down by 16 points at halftime, 55-39. 
 
Trailing by 17 points with 10:44 remaining in regulation, UCCS chipped away at the Skyhawks lead and tied the game, 86-86, after outscoring FLC 31-15 over eight minutes.
 
The Mountain Lions took their first lead of the second half with 2:16 remaining after Fort Lewis committed a technical foul.  Brandon Malone hit two free throws from the technical foul to tie the game, 86-86, followed by DaRaun Clark's free throw that finished an and-one play.
 
Six made free throws by FLC in a 40-second span gave the Skyhawks a five-point lead with 85 ticks left in the game.
 
Thirty-nine seconds later and down by one point, Padiet Wang sank a three-pointer to boost UCCS to a two-point lead, 99-97 and only 25 seconds left.  FLC was sent to the line again and made both free throws to knot the game at 99.
 
With only two seconds remaining, Ross hit the front-end of two free throws to give UCCS a 100-99 lead and the win.
 
Sixty-four fouls were called between the two teams with 34 fouls being called against the Mountain Lions.  In the final five minutes of action, both teams committed a total of 20 fouls and three technicals.  Five Mountain Lions fouled out Friday night and two Skyhawks reached the five-foul limit.  Combined, both teams attempted 86 free throws.
 
UCCS netted 30-of-41 free throws for 73.2 percent and finished the game making 29-of-54 from the floor (53.7 percent) and 12-of-25 from behind the arc (48 percent).  The Mountain Lions 30 made free throws, 41 attempted free throws, 12 made treys and 48 three-point field goal percentage are all season highs.
 
Wang led UCCS with 19 points after sinking all three three-pointers, 6-of-8 field goals and 4-of-7 free throws.  Brandon Malone added 18 points, nine of which came from long range, while Avdili chipped in 16 points, six dimes and two steals.  Wang, Avdili and Malone combined to shoot 9-of-15 from long distance.
 
Seven of Ross' 13 points came from the charity stripe.  Ross made 7-of-12 free throws and three jumpers to go with his four assists, blocked shot and steal.
 
The Mountain Lions were out-rebounded by FLC by 19 boards, 40-21, but UCCS outscored FLC on turnovers, 23-14.
 
UCCS will play at Adams State University Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.