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PREVIEW | Men's Basketball Heads up the Interstate to take on Regis and CCU

12/10/2019 11:42:00 AM

By: Jake Wise - Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant
This Week's Games
  • The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team will be on the road this weekend for a pair of conference matchups.
  • On Friday, December 13, UCCS will be in Denver, Colo. taking on Regis University at 7 p.m. inside the Regis Fieldhouse.
  • On Saturday, December 14, UCCS will be taking on Colorado Christian University (CCU) in Lakewood, Colo. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. in the CCU Event Center.
  • Next weekend, UCCS will be back in the Gallogly Events Center as they host their final non-conference opponent of the season. On Friday, December 20, UCCS will take on Northern New Mexico College (NNMC) at 7:30 p.m.
Game Coverage Last Time Out
  • The Mountain Lions split their two home games last weekend with a loss to Colorado Mesa University on Friday, 72-75, and a win against Western Colorado University on Saturday, 69-50. That brings their record to 5-2 this season overall and 2-1 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
  • On Friday, the Mountain Lions came out ready to play for Black Out Night as they took a two-point lead into halftime, 42-40. UCCS led for most of the second half but relinquished the lead with less than a minute left as free throws became paramount for Mesa. The Mavericks went 16-for-18 from the line to snatch away the victory from UCCS.
  • Despite the loss, UCCS shot the ball well overall as they finished the game shooting 44.4 percent from the field (28-63) and 81.8 percent from the free throw line (9-11). The Mountain Lions went 7-for-19 from long range in the game as well. UCCS dominated Mesa inside, outscoring them 40-26 in points in the paint.
  • Parker Gaddis was the top scorer for UCCS in the game at 17 points (7-12 FG), while Padiet Wang and Blend Avdili were the next top scorers at 13 and 10 points, respectively. Gaddis and Avdili tied for the team high in assists at four, while Wang added six boards and two steals to his stat sheet.
  • William Becker led all players with 11 rebounds (five offensive) and added eight points to the UCCS total as well.
  • On Saturday, the Mountain Lions bounced back in a big way against WCU as their defensive prowess was on full display. After a slow start to the game, UCCS ended the first half on a 17-8 scoring run to make the score 30-23. In the second half, UCCS held WCU to only 27.3 percent shooting and 18.8 percent from the three-point line as they cruised to a 69-50 win.
  • Avdili had the hot hand in this game as he finished with a game high 19 points (7-12 FG) and five three-pointers (5-9 3PT). He also added four rebounds and a game high three blocks. Wang and Alijah Comithier followed suit with 13 and 12 points, respectively as Wang added a game high in both rebounds (eight) and steals (seven).
  • Johnnie Jones III also tied for the game high in both rebounds and blocks as the Mountain Lions went on to record 10 blocks, 30 rebounds and 13 steals in this defensive showcase.
RMAC Record/Standings
  • In the early stages of conference play, UCCS sits in the fourth spot of the RMAC standings with their 5-2 overall record and 2-1 conference record. Dixie State University, Regis, and Westminster College are the top three teams, respectively.
The Series
  • Against Regis, UCCS has an all-time record of 15-38. However, the Mountain Lions have split the last 10 games with Regis evenly, 5-5. The most recent matchup between the teams was a two-point loss for UCCS in last season's RMAC Tournament, 78-80.
  • Against CCU, UCCS owns an all-time record of 19-33. Again, UCCS has played the Cougars tough in recent years as they own a 6-4 record in their last 10 games. The Mountain Lions won the most recent matchup between these teams by a score of 73-70.
  • UCCS has won all three of its matchups against NNMC by an average margin of almost 30 points per win (29.3).
Scouting Report
  • Regis has a 7-1 record to start the season, including a 2-0 record in the RMAC. Their only loss of the season came at the hands of Western Oregon University, 69-90. As a team, the Rangers are averaging 80 points per game and allowing 72.9 points per game. Regis is shooting 45.3 percent from the field, 33.5 percent from three and 77.7 percent from the free throw line.
  • The Rangers are also averaging 37.4 rebounds, 12.5 assists, 14.6 turnovers and 8.6 steals per game this season.
  • Regis' top scorer is Christian Little at 15 point per game, followed by Toni Rocak at 14.8 points per game and Brian Dawson at 12.8 points per game. Roberto Vercellino is the team's leading rebounder with 51 total boards (6.4 per game) and Will Cranston-Lown is the leading distributor with 22 total assists (2.8 per game).
  • CCU has struggled to start the season as they are yet to win a game in eight contests (0-8, 0-2 RMAC). CCU is averaging 69.8 points per game this season, while their opponents are averaging 82.4 points per game. The Cougars are shooting 41.9 percent from the field, 34.2 percent from long range and 75.6 percent from the free throw line.
  • CCU is also averaging 33.4 rebounds, 13.8 assists, 14.6 turnovers and 3.1 steals per game this year.
  • Individually, Justin Engesser (13.9 PPG) and Jake Hornick (12.5 PPG) are the top two scorers for CCU. Engesser is also the team's leading three-point shooter with 19 three-pointers made, as well their leading rebounder at eight boards per game. Hornick leads the team in assists with 37 (4.6 per game).
  • NNMC has a 1-10 record so far this season. The Eagles are averaging 73.4 points per game and allowing 81.2 points per game this season.
  • The leading scorers for NNMC are Naquwan Solomon (17.4 PPG), Tyrique Weaver (15.7 PPG) and Estevan Martinez (13.1 PPG). Martinez is the team's leading three-point shooter (20 3FG), Weaver is the leading rebounder (6.7 per game) and Solomon leads the team in assists with 22 (2.2 per game).
Hot Takes
  • UCCS is averaging 75 points per game and allowing only 67 points per game so far this season. The Mountain Lions are shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 35.6 percent from long range, while averaging 38.3 rebounds, 14 assists, 6.7 steals and 7.4 blocks per game this season.
  • UCCS is leading the RMAC in points allowed per game (67) and ranks second in the RMAC in opponents shooting percentage (40 percent).
  • The Mountain Lions had their best defensive performance of the season by far on Saturday, holding WCU to under 30 percent shooting for the entire game. UCCS held WCU to 50 points, which marks the lowest point total by an opponent this season.
  • The Mountain Lions also recorded 14 blocks and 20 steals over the weekend to add to their defensive stats. As a team, UCCS is leading the nation (Division II) in blocked shots per game (7.4) and is tied for first in all Divisions in the category.
  • Senior Padiet Wang is the team's leading scorer among active players as he is averaging 17.3 points per game and shooting 51.3 percent from the field this season (40-78). Redshirt senior Blend Avdili is the next leading scorer for UCCS among active players at 10.7 points per game. Avdili also has the most three-pointers made for the Mountain Lions to start the season at 15.
  • Wang has a team high 20 steals while freshman William Becker leads the team in rebounds with 48 (8.0 per game). Senior Ed Bourke leads the block party for UCCS with 10 blocks.
  • Junior Parker Gaddis leads the team in assists with 28 (four per game).
RMAC Leaders
  • As a team, UCCS ranks first in the RMAC in fewest points allowed per game (67.1) and blocked shots (52) and blocked shots per game (7.4). The Mountain Lions rank second in opponent shooting percentage as they are holding their opponents to 40 percent shooting overall.
  • They also rank second in offensive rebounds per game (12) and rebounding margin (5.7), third in rebounds per game (38.3) and sixth in scoring margin (8.0).
  • Padiet Wang ranks first in the RMAC in steals (20) and steals per game (2.9), fourth in blocked shots (nine, tied), fifth in blocked shots per game (1.3) and ninth in points per game at 17.3.
  • Ed Bourke ranks second in the RMAC in blocked shots (10, tied) and blocked shots per game (1.4, tied).
  • William Becker leads the RMAC in blocked shots per game (1.5) and offensive rebounds per game (3.0), ranks third in offensive rebounds (18) and rebounds per game (8.0) and fourth in blocked shots (nine, tied).
  • Johnnie Jones III ranks second in the RMAC in blocked shots per game (1.4, tied) and eighth in blocked shots (seven, tied).
UCCS Under Head Coach Jeff Culver
  • UCCS is now 119-93 under coach Culver. Coach Culver owns a 7-7 record against Regis, 5-4 record against CCU and 3-0 record against NNMC. The Mountain Lions will aim to improve all of those records in their upcoming matchups.
Upcoming Games
  • Next weekend, UCCS will host NNMC for their final non-conference matchup of the season.
  • After the holidays, UCCS will begin the new year on the road in Utah for a pair of RMAC matchups.
  • On Friday, January 3, UCCS will be in St. George taking on Dixie State University at 7:30 p.m.
  • On Saturday, January 4, UCCS will be in Salt Lake City facing off against Westminster College at 7:30 p.m.
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