THIS WEEK'S GAMES
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team will start 2020 in the Beehive State to play Dixie State University and Westminster College Jan. 3 and Jan. 4.

• Jan. 3 | 7:30 p.m. at No. 13 Dixie State University (10-1, 5-0 RMAC)
• Jan. 4 | 7:30 p.m. at Westminster College (7-4, 2-3 RMAC)
   

GAME COVERAGE
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/uccs/
DSU Live Stats:  https://dixiestateathletics.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
WC Live Stats: https://westminstergriffins.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
 
LAST TIME OUT
UCCS notched their seventh win of the season on Dec. 20 against Northern New Mexico College by a score of 63-47, bringing the Mountain Lions record to 7-3 overall this season.  UCCS finished the game shooting 41.5 percent from the field (22-of-53) and 25 percent from beyond the arc (5-of-20). However, the Mountain Lions again showed off their defensive prowess as they held the Eagles to 31 percent shooting for the game (18-of-58), including a mere 22.6 percent in the first half. The Mountain Lions also outrebounded NNMC 47-34, dished out 12 assists and recorded nine steals in the game.

Alijah Comithier was the top scorer for UCCS with a game high 14 points on 6-for-10 shooting. He also added six boards and two steals to his stat line. Blend Avdili followed suit with 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting including 2-of-5 from long range. Avdili also hauled in a game high eight rebounds.
 
THE SERIES
Friday's matchup at Dixie State will be the third meeting between the two teams.  The series is tied at 1-1 with the Mountain Lions winning the last matchup, 77-74, on Jan. 4, 2019.
 
UCCS and the Griffins have played each other five times prior to Saturday's game.  The Mountain Lions hold a 3-2 series lead over Westminster and have won the last two games.  UCCS is 2-0 at Westminster College.
 
SCOUTING REPORT
The 13^th ranked team in Division II, Dixie State University owns a 10-1 overall record and are undefeated in league games with a 5-0 record.  DSU's only loss of the season came on Dec. 20 at Western Oregon University, 91-75.
 
DSU leads the RMAC in assist turnover ratio (1.54), assists per game (18.5), rebounding margin (7.4) and rebounds per game (40.9).  The Trailblazers are netting 83.9 points per game, the third most in the RMAC.
 
Dixie State's Jack Pagenkopf leads Division II with two triple-doubles in just 11 games this season.  Teammate Hunter Schofield leads the team in scoring (18.1 ppg), rebounds per game (7.5) and field goal percentage (52.4 percent).
 
WC will open the New Year with a 7-4 record.  The Griffins are tied for ninth place in the RMAC standings (2-3) and are on a two-game losing streak.  WC is scoring 75.5 points per game and allowing 74.3 points per game. 
 
Brandon Warr has a conference high six double-doubles and leads the league in rebounds (9.8 rpg).  He is scoring a team high 17.6 points per game and owns a 46.0 percentage from long range.
 
HOT TAKES
Padiet Wang's 25 steals (2.5 spg) leads the RMAC, while William Becker has snagged a RMAC-best 2.67 offensive rebounds per game.
 
Wang leads UCCS in scoring (16.6 ppg), and free throws made (51) and attempted (74).
 
Becker's 1.33 blocked shots per game are the second most in the conference this season.   
 
Parker Gaddis has dished out a team best 4.1 assists per game and owns the best assist turnover ratio for the Mountain Lions (1.46).
 
Blend Avdili is a sharpshooter from long range, sinking 24 treys at a 36.4 percent clip.
 
As a team, UCCS is one of the top defensive teams in the RMAC.  The Mountain Lions have the second most blocks in Division II, stuffing 6.0 shots per game.  UCCS' scoring defense is tops in the league as they hold their opponents to 66 points per game and the best field goal shooting defense in the conference (40.2 percent).
 
UCCS UNDER HEAD COACH JEFF CULVER
The Mountain Lions now have a 121-94 record under head coach Jeff Culver, who is in his eighth season at the helm.  Culver is 1-0 all-time against Dixie State, and 3-2 all-time against WC.
 
UPCOMING GAMES
The Mountain Lions will return home Jan. 10-11 to play host to Fort Lewis College and Adams State University.  Both games will tip-off at 7:30 p.m. from Gallogly Events Center.