GOLDEN, Colo. – Sophomore guard DaRaun Clark netted a game high 30 points to lead to the University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team to an 82-77 win over the defending Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference champions, Colorado School of Mines.  The Mountain Lions took down the Orediggers in Golden, Colo. Saturday night to open the conference season.
 
The Mountain Lions overcame a 12-point first half deficit and trailed by only two points at halftime, 44-42. Both teams exchanged leads in the second half before Geoff Kelly drained a three-pointer with 3:58 left in regulation to give UCCS a 76-74 lead they would not relinquish.
 
Alijah Comithier followed Kelly's trey with two free throws.  After a Mines free throw by Mason Baker, Kelly sank another three-pointer for the Mountain Lions largest lead of the game, 81-75.
 
Clark finished the game making 9-of-17 field goals, four of which came from long range, and 8-of-10 free throws.
 
Kelly netted six of his eight points in the second half as he finished making all three field goal attempts.
 
Ten of Padiet Wang's 18 points came from the charity stripe.  Wang hit 10-of-14 free throws and 4-of-8 from the floor. Blend Avdili chipped in 11 points, two assists and a steal.
 
UCCS shot a season high 53.1 percent from the floor (17-of-28).  The Mountain Lions added 22-of-31 free throws for 71.0 percent. 
 
Despite pulling down a season low 30 rebounds, the Mountain Lions out-rebounded the Orediggers, 30-27.  Behind Clark's 30 points, the Mountain Lions bench outscored Mines, 34-5.
 
UCCS will return to Gallogly Events Center Dec. 6-7 to play host to Colorado Mesa University and Western State Colorado University.  The first 700 UCCS students to Friday's games against the Mavericks will receive a free Black Out t-shirt.