COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Forty minutes of high tempo offense and hot shooting paved the way for the University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team to a 94-83 win over New Mexico Highlands University Saturday night at Gallogly Events Center. The win clinched a spot for the Mountain Lions in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament.
UCCS closes the weekend with a 13-6 league record (16-9 overall) and are owners of four straight wins. NMHU moves to 11-8 in the conference and 16-9 in RMAC games.
The first half featured high tempo offense and fast breaks by both teams as both squads combined to score 90 points in the first half. The Mountain Lions were on fire in the first half, sinking 72.7 percent of their shots (16-of-22) and 4-of-7 from three-point range (57.1 percent).
After a two-point lead at halftime, 46-44, the Mountain Lions faced their largest deficit of the game, 59-55, at 14:36 in the second half.
Five minutes later,
Ian MacDonald sparked a 19-7 run to boost the Mountain Lions lead to 15 points with 3:09 left in regulation. MacDonald hit a three to break a 64-64 tie with 9:30 remaining in the game. Over the next three minutes, the senior forward scored four points, grabbed three rebounds that resulted in seven points, and blocked a hot.
In the final 4:53 of regulation, the Cowboys bench received their first of two technical fouls and fouled UCCS seven times, sending the Mountain Lions to the line where they ended the game making 16-of-18 from the line to seal the win.
All five starters for the Mountain Lions scored in double digits behind
Dalton Walker's team high 19 points. Walker was perfect from the line on all eight attempts while making 4-of-8 form the floor and 3-of-6 from three-point range.
MacDonald posted 17 points and pulled down eight rebounds and blocking two shots.
DaRaun Clark and
Padiet Wang each netted 15 points. Nine of Clark's points were from three-point land and he made all four free throw attempts. Wang dished out a game high eight assists and added seven rebounds while making 7-of-8 from the three throw line.
Isaiah Wilson was efficient from the floor, netting 3-of-6 field goals and 3-of-4 free throws for 11 points. He posted four dimes, two steals and snagged two rebounds.
UCCS finished the game blocked five shots and edged NMHU on the boards, 30-28. The Mountain Lions were rock solid from the floor, making 28-of-45 field goals (62.2 percent) and 9-of-20 from downtown (45 percent).
The Mountain Lions will play their final three games of the regular season on the road. UCCS will travel to South Dakota Mines on Friday, Feb. 22, and Black Hills State University the following night.
