UCCS (6-5, 3-2 RMAC) vs. Dixie State University (4-5, 2-3 RMAC) | Friday, Jan. 4 | 7:30 p.m. | Live Stats | Video
UCCS vs. Westminster College (4-5, 2-3 RMAC) | Saturday, Jan. 5 | 7:30 p.m. | Live Stats | Video
 
THIS WEEK
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team will play host to Dixie State University and Westminster College. Both games will start at approximately 7:30 p.m., following the women's 5:30 p.m. matchups.  UCCS is 6-5 overall this season, 3-2 in conference games, and 4-1 in Gallogly Events Center.
 
The Trailblazers and Griffins own identical records (4-5 overall, 2-3 RMAC) and are tied for 10^th place in the league standings.
 
ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN LIONS
UCCS is on a four-game winning streak and own a 6-5 overall record and 3-2 mark in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.  The Mountain Lions are one of six teams tied for the fourth spot in the league standings with a 3-2 record.
 
UCCS ranks in the top five in the league in multiple categories, including second in assists per game (16.3), offensive rebounds per game (11.6), steals per game (8.4) and total steals (92); third in three-point field goals attempted (277), free throws attempted (249), totals assists (179), rebounds (404), turnover margin (2.1) and turnovers forced (16.4); fourth in assist-turnover margin (1.1), free throws made (178), scoring offense (82.9) and total rebounds per game (36.7); and fifth in blocked shots per game (3.3), field goal percentage (46.2), scoring margin (3.1), and three-point field goal defense (34.8).
 
Individually, Padiet Wang leads the RMAC in steals (26) and steals per game (2.4).  His 2.4 steals per game are the 26^th most in NCAA Division II.  Ed Bourke has blocked 10 shots in 11 games, the ninth most in the RMAC.
 
Wang and Brandon Malone are the two Mountain Lions who have started all 11 games this season.  Wang leads the team in scoring amongst active players, averaging 12.2 points per game.  This season, six Mountain Lions are averaging at least 10 points per game.
 
Wang also leads the team in rebounds, securing 64 this season (5.8 per game).
 
Blend Avdili, who has started 8-of-11 games, has dished out a team high 28 assists and is one of five Mountain Lions to post at least 22 assists.
 
Malone has sunk a team high 18 treys and is shooting 34 percent from long range (18-of-53).  He is averaging 10.4 points per game while adding 35 rebounds, 24 assists and 13 steals.
 
As a team, the Mountain Lions hold an advantage over their opponents in scoring (+3.1), made field goals (322-303), made three-point field goals (89-70), turnover margin (+2.1) and blocks (36-27).
 
LAST TIME OUT
UCCS entered the Christmas Break winning three games at home in three days.  The Mountain Lions tallied an 84-80 win over Regis University on Dec. 15, following by a 73-70 win against Colorado Christian University on Dec. 16, and a non-conference win over Northern New Mexico College on Dec. 17 (99-82).

SCOUTING DIXIE STATE UNIVERSITY
Dixie State University leads all 16 RMAC teams in defensive rebounds per game (28.1), field goal percentage defense (41.9) and rebounds per game (38.9).  The Trailblazers are averaging 70.7 points per game while shooting at a 43.5 percent clip.  They have hit 49 three-pointers while out-rebounding their opponents by 5.1 rebounds per game.
 
Matt Conway leads DSU with 15.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.  Wade Miller leads the Trailblazers three-point game, making a team high 13 treys while attempting 35 shots.  He is also perfect from the free throw line on all 11 attempts.
 
SCOUTING WESTMINSTER COLLEGE
Westminster College heads into the weekend winning one of their last four games.  The Griffins, who are winless on the road this season (0-3), will play at Colorado School of Mines on Friday before facing the Mountain Lions on Saturday.
 
WC is scoring an average of 69.7 points per game, nearly five fewer points than their opponent.  The Griffins are shooting at a 43.9 percent clip from the floor, and 38.3 percent from long range.
 
Brandon Warr is averaging a team high 13.3 points per game and a RMAC best 9.3 rebounds per game.  Alec Monson has tallied a team high 22 assists on the offensive end of the court, and blocked a team high 10 shots on the defensive end.
  
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 travel to Durango, Colo. on Jan. 11 to face Fort Lewis College, followed by Saturday's game at Adams State University.