COLORADO SPRINGS – Ian MacDonald pulled down three offensive rebounds in the final two minutes of regulation that led to five points and the win for the University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team.  Elijah Ross sealed the win at the free line, hitting the front end of bonus free throws to propel the Mountain Lions to a 73-72 win over Black Hills State University. 
 
Friday's win at home over the YellowJackets was the ninth straight victory for the Mountain Lions who improve to 11-5 overall and 8-2 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. 
 
Blend Avdili made the first basketball of the game 70 seconds after tipoff, but it would be the Mountain Lions only lead of the game until the 15:14 minute mark in the second half when Dalton Walker made a three-pointer to give UCCS a 45-44 lead.
 
DaRaun Clark made back-to-back baskets that included a jump shot and a three-pointer to help UCCS to a 52-50 lead at 9:44. The Mountain Lions would lead the YellowJackets the remainder of the game.
 
Holding on to a two-point lead, 65-63, and 2:29 left in regulation, MacDonald grabbed a rebounded from Clark's missed layup and tipped it in for two points. 
 
A three-pointer by BHSU's Connor O'Hearn cut the Mountain Lions lead down to one, 67-66, but MacDonald was clutch again on the boards.  After O'Hearn's three-pointer and a timeout, MacDonald pulled down a missed jumper from Ross, followed by another offensive rebound from Avdili's missed attempt.  MacDonald found Brandon Malone with 68 ticks left and fed him a three-pointer that boosted the lead back to four for UCCS, 70-66.
 
Six points by the YellowJackets in the ensuing 34 seconds knotted the game for the seventh time tonight, 72-72.
 
Following a timeout with seven seconds left, BHSU fouled the Mountain Lions for their sixth team foul of the half.  Four seconds later another team timeout was called, followed by another foul by BHSU with one second remaining, sending Ross to the free throw line for a one-and-one.
 
MacDonald finished the night with four rebounds (three offensive), six points, two assists and two blocked shots.  Three of Ross' five points came from the free throw line (3-of-6) and he added a team high five assists.
 
Clark led the Mountain Lions in scoring with 14 points.  He made 3-of-9 from the floor, 2-of-4 from long range and 6-of-7 from the free throw line.
 
Padiet Wang tabbed a double-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds (nine defensive) and added two blocks, two steals and an assist.
 
UCCS posted a 42-35 rebound advantage and scored 13 second chance points. 
 
The Mountain Lions will play host to South Dakota School of Mines & Technology on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.