COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of Fort Hays State University (FHSU). In a back and forth game that featured seven second-half lead changes, UCCS fell by a score of 68-75. UCCS now owns a 3-1 record this season as FHSU also improves to 3-1.

FHSU finished the game shooting 45 percent from the field (27-60) and 38.5 percent from the three-point line (5-13), while the Mountain Lions shot 39 percent overall (24-61) and 6-26 from long range (23 percent). FHSU is the first team to outrebound UCCS this season as they hauled in 44 boards to UCCS' 32.

Padiet Wang led all scorers with 23 points (8-10 FG), which included going 1-for-1 from three-point range and 6-for-7 from the free-throw line. Wang also added three rebounds and a game high four blocks. DaRaun Clark was UCCS' second leading scorer with 15 points (5-12 FG), which included two three-pointers and a perfect 3-for-3 from the line. Clark also added two assists, one steal and one block.

Ed Bourke led all players with nine rebounds and added six points and two assists, while Parker Gaddis led all players with four assists. Blend Avdili and Alijah Comithier each added nine points to the Mountain Lion total.

The game was a hard-fought battle from the very start as UCCS jumped out to an early 11-point lead to start things off (13-2). The Tigers would find their composure and managed to close the deficit to one after 20 minutes of play (33-32).

The second half was a back-and-forth affair as neither team could pull away from the other. Down the stretch, the Tigers were able to maintain a small lead and grind out the seven-point victory behind Jared Vitztum's team high 17 points.

Next up for UCCS, after a week off this weekend, is the first game of RMAC play as they get ready to take on Colorado School of Mines. The game is scheduled for Saturday, November 30 at 7 p.m. in Golden, Colo.