This Week's Games

• The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team returns to the Gallogly Events Center this Friday for their final non-conference game of the year.
• On Friday, December 20, UCCS will take on Northern New Mexico College (NNMC) at 7:30 p.m.

• Live Stream and live stats for the game against NNMC can be found at the following links:
  • Live Stream: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/uccs/
  • Live Stats: https://gomountainlions.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary

• For the second weekend in a row, UCCS split their two games as they took down Regis University, 77-64, and fell to Colorado Christian University in the final seconds, 79-77. That brings the Mountain Lions' record to 6-3 overall this season, and 3-2 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. 
• On Friday, Regis jumped out to an early lead after five minutes of play (15-5) and led by as many as 11 points (18-7) in the half. UCCS would battle back with a 16-5 run to tie the game at 23 and eventually end the first half up 37-34. In the second half, UCCS turned up the defensive intensity as they held the Rangers to 36 percent shooting from the field and only allowed nine baskets in the half (9-of-25). The Mountain Lions shot 61 percent in the half and cruised to a 77-64 victory.
• UCCS finished the game shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from long-range. Geoff Kelly led a balanced scoring attack for UCCS with a game high 15 points (5-9 FG), including a game high four three-pointers. Close behind Kelly were both Alijah Comithier (14 points) and Padiet Wang (12 points). 
• Parker Gaddis hauled in a game high seven rebounds while adding eight points to the UCCS total, while Wang tallied a game high six assists.
• On Saturday, UCCS and CCU were in a tight battle from the very start. In the first half, neither team could find an edge to create separation as the half would end with CCU up by one, 35-34. The second half was very exciting as both teams led by as many as nine points. After Blend Avdili tied the score at 77 with a big three, CCU was able to stun the Mountain Lions with a go-ahead layup with only two seconds left, handing UCCS the 77-79 loss. 
• Wang and Avdili were the top scorers in the game at 24 points each, with Advili pouring in six three-pointers and Wang hitting eight free-throws. Kelly rounded the top scorers with 16 points as those three players combined for 64 of the 77 UCCS' points. Wang added seven boards and four assists, matching game high marks in both categories with Gaddis. 
• Comithier also had a game high seven boards while William Becker added five boards and three assists.

• UCCS remains in the fourth spot of the RMAC with their 6-3 overall record and 3-2 RMAC record. Dixie State University, Colorado Mesa University and Colorado School of Mines are the top three teams, respectively.

• UCCS has won all three of its matchups against NNMC by an average margin of almost 30 points per win (29.3). The most recent game was a 99-82 win for UCCS last season.

• NNMC has a 2-10 record so far this season. The Eagles are averaging 75 points per game and allowing 80.3 points per game this season. In their most recent matchup, NNMC won their second game of the season against the University of the Virgin Islands by a score of 93-70.
• The leading scorers for NNMC are Naquwan Solomon (17.7 PPG), Tyrique Weaver (15.8 PPG) and Estevan Martinez (13.5 PPG). 
• Martinez is the team's leading three-point shooter (22 3FG), Weaver is the leading rebounder (6.8 per game) and Solomon leads the team in assists with 27 (2.5 per game).

• UCCS is averaging 75.6 points per game and allowing 68.1 points per game through nine games this season. The Mountain Lions are shooting 47 percent from the field and 38 percent from long range this season. They are also averaging 37.5 rebounds, 14.4 assists, 7.0 steals and 6.4 blocks per game this year.
• UCCS ranks second in Division II in blocked shots per game at 6.4.
• Senior Padiet Wang remains the team's leading scorer among active players at 17.4 points per game. He is shooting 48.0 percent from the field and leads the team in steals with 22.
• Redshirt senior Blend Avdili is the team's next leading scorer among active players at 12 points per game. Avdili remains the team's leading three-point shooter as well with 22 made threes this year. 
• Freshman William Becker is hauling in a team high 7.1 rebounds per game this year, while senior Ed Bourke is still leading the block party with 11 blocks. Junior Parker Gaddis has a team high 36 assists this year as well.

• As a team, UCCS ranks first in the RMAC in blocked shots (58), blocked shots per game (6.4), offensive rebounds per game (11.8) and second in fewest points allowed per game (68.1). The Mountain Lions rank second (tied) in opponent shooting percentage as they are holding their opponents to 41.2 percent shooting overall. 

• They also rank second in offensive rebounds (106) and rebounding margin (6.3).
• Padiet Wang ranks first in the RMAC in steals (22) and steals per game (2.4), fourth in blocked shots (10, tied) and blocked shots per game (1.3, tied) and seventh in points per game at 17.4.
• Ed Bourke ranks third in the RMAC in blocked shots (11) and blocked shots per game (1.2). 
• William Becker ranks first in the RMAC in offensive rebounds per game (2.8, tied), second in blocked shots per game (1.3), third in offensive rebounds (22), fourth in blocked shots (10, tied) and sixth in rebounds per game (7.1).
• Johnnie Jones III ranks fourth in the RMAC in blocked shots per game (1.1, tied) and eighth in blocked shots (eight, tied).

• The Mountain Lions now have a 120-94 record under head coach Jeff Culver. In recent years, UCCS has dominated the matchup against NNMC with Culver at the helm. They will look for their fourth win in a row against the Eagles this Friday.

• 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.