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Dec 1, 2018; Colorado Springs, CO, USA; UCCS Mountain Lions guard Padiet Wang (10) controls the ball in the second half against the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers at Gallogly Events Center. Credit: Isaiah J. Downing

PREVIEW | Men's Basketball set to Host a Pair of Non-Conference Opponents

11/12/2019 10:56:00 AM

By: Jake Wise - Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant
This Week's Games
  • The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team will host a pair of non-conference opponents this weekend.
  • On Saturday, November 16, UCCS will face off against the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) at 3 p.m. inside Gallogly Events Center.
  • On Sunday, November 17, UCCS will play Fort Hays State University (FHSU) at 3 p.m. inside Gallolgy Events Center.
Game Coverage Last Time Out
  • UCCS started the season off on a high note last weekend with two wins over Midwestern State University, 69-61, and Cameron University, 90-62.
  • In their season opener against Midwestern State, the Mountain Lions were able establish an inside presence with 40 points in the paint, 16 in the first half and 24 in the second half, effectively doubling and quadrupling Midwestern State's totals for each half respectively. UCCS also had quality play from their bench as they outscored Midwestern State's bench 17-10.
  • Tied at 35-35 after the first half, UCCS picked up the intensity on defense and outscored Midwestern State 34-26 in the second half to bring home the eight-point victory.
  • Senior Padiet Wang led all scorers with 19 points and added eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals. Close behind Wang was senior Ed Bourke with 14 points and six rebounds, while William Becker led all players with 10 rebounds.
  • UCCS finished the game shooting 44 percent from the field while holding Midwestern State to 31 percent shooting.
  • On Saturday, UCCS showed off their offensive talent as they put up 90 points on Cameron University, including 56 points in the second half alone.
  • The Mountain Lions again dominated in the paint as they outscored Cameron 42-24. The UCCS bench came up big again with 43 points, led by sophomore DaRaun Clark and his game high 17 points and four three pointers.
  • After ending the first half up seven points (34-27), UCCS put on an offensive clinic in the second half as they shot 66 percent from the field (20-30) and 80 percent from beyond the arc (8-10). UCCS finished the game shooting 50 percent from the field (33-66) and 47.8 percent from the three-point line (11-23) while holding Cameron to 35 percent from the field and 37 percent from three.
  • Wang finished the game tied with Clark for the game high in points (17) and added four assists and three steals. Blend Avdili, William Becker and Geoff Kelly rounded out the top scorers for UCCS with 12, 11 and 10 points respectively. Johnnie Jones III led all players with 11 rebounds.
The Series
  • Against UNK, UCCS has an all-time record of 5-17. The most recent matchup between these teams ended in a 73-83 loss for UCCS.
  • Against FHSU, UCCS has yet to win a game in 12 matchups. The Mountain Lions will look to turn the tides against both these teams and continue their hot start to the season.
Scouting Report
  • UNK has lost their first two games to start the season for their 0-2 record. Their first loss of the season came at the hands of Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU), who is 2-0 to start the year, by a score of 57-72. UNK's second loss was by eight points to East Central University (ECU), 78-86, who is also 2-0 this year. OBU and ECU were ranked third and sixth respectively in the preseason rankings of the Great American Conference.
  •  The Lopers are averaging 67.5 points per game and allowing 79 points per game through two games this season.
  • UNK is shooting 43.5 percent from the field, 75 percent from the free-throw line and 25 percent from beyond the arc to start the year. They also are averaging 29.5 rebounds, 14 assists, 15 turnovers and 7.5 steals through two games.
  • Individually, AJ Jackson and Kyle Juhl pace the offense for UNK, averaging 13.5 and 11.5 points respectively this season. Jackson is also leading the team in assists with six, while Juhl leads the team in rebounds with 14 (four offensive, 10 defensive).
  • FHSU is 2-0 to start the season after taking down Arkansas Tech University (ATU), 88-78, and Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU), 58-53. Both ATU and SWOSU were ranked in the bottom half of the Great American Conference preseason poll, with ATU coming in at eighth and SWOSU ranking dead last.
  • The Tigers are averaging 73 points per game and allowing 65.5 points after two games.
  • FHSU is shooting 41.5 percent from the field, 27.5 percent from three-point range and 86 percent from the free-throw line to start the 2019-2020 season. The Tigers are averaging 45.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 18 turnovers and four steals per game so far this year.
  • Individually, FHSU has three players averaging 12 points per game: Aaron Nicholson, Nyjee Wright and Jared Vitztum. Nicholson is also leading the team in assists and steals, six and two respectively, while Vitztum shares the team lead in rebounds with 14.
Hot Takes
  • After putting up 90 points on Saturday, UCCS is averaging close to 80 points per game to start the season (79.5). The Mountain Lions are shooting 47.5 percent from the field, 35.9 percent from three and 64.7 percent from the line to start the year.
  • UCCS is also averaging 47 rebounds, 17.5 assists, 7.5 steals and 9.5 blocks per game this year.
  • Padiet Wang leads the team in scoring averaging 18 points per game, followed by DaRaun Clark (12 PPG) and Ed Bourke (10 PPG). Wang also leads the team in steals with five.
  • Junior Parker Gaddis is the leading distributor for UCCS with nine assists, while William Becker leads the team in rebounds with 19 (9.5 per game), which includes seven offensive rebounds. Bourke leads the block party for UCCS with six.
  • Clarke is leading the team in three-pointers made with five and is shooting 41 percent from deep to start the year (5-12).
UCCS Under Coach Jeff Culver
  • UCCS is now 72-49 under head coach Jeff Culver. Entering his eighth season as head coach, the team's 2-0 start this year marks the third time UCCS has started 2-0 with Culver at the helm.
  • Coach Culver has led the Mountain Lions to six RMAC Tournament appearances prior to this season and one RMAC Championship in the 2014-2015 season, when the team went 27-6 on their way to a second-round appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Coach Culver owns a 5-5 record in the RMAC Tournament. Culver has also led UCCS to the NCAA Tournament two times in his seven prior seasons.
  • In the past, a 2-0 start under Coach Culver has led to great seasons for UCCS. The Mountain Lions will look to add to that trend this year.
Upcoming Games
  • After a weekend off next week, UCCS will be on the road in Golden, Colo. taking on Colorado School of Mines for the first game of conference play this season.
  • The game is scheduled for Saturday, November 30 at 7 p.m.
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