RAPID CITY, S.D. – Senior forward
Dalton Walker and junior guard
Padiet Wang combined to score 18 points in the final four minutes of action to lead the University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team to a 74-73 lead at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology Friday night in Rapid City, S.D.
The win improves UCCS to 17-9 overall and 14-6 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The Hardrockers fall to 11-17 on the season and 8-12 in the league.
The Mountain Lions trailed SDSMT for more than 35 minutes tonight. Down 11 points with 4:11 left in regulation (67-56), the Mountain Lions mounted their comeback when Wang nailed a three-pointer. UCCS didn't score again for almost two minutes when Walker sank a trey from
Isaiah Wilson. After UCCS called a timeout, Wang stole the ball and found Walker for another jumper from downtown.
Walker was fouled on UCCS' next possession which led to two free throws with 62 ticks left in the game. Wang secured an offensive rebound on the Mountain Lions next trip down the court with 17 seconds left, which he followed with a dunk to bring UCCS within two points, 71-73.
Wang found Walker with one second left in the game. Walker drained the thee-pointer as time ran out to give UCCS their fifth straight win.
Walker posted 25 points after hitting 7-of-14 field goals, six of which came from behind the arc. He also sank all five free throw attempts and pulled down four rebounds. Walker scored 11 of his 25 points in the final two minutes and 24 seconds.
Wang finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
Ed Bourke came off the bench to net eight points and pull down four caroms in 14 minutes of action.
UCCS shot 46.6 percent from the floor (27-of-58), 40 percent from three-point range (10-of-25) and 58.8 percent from the free throw line (10-of-17).
The Hardrockers Mitchell Sueker tied Walker for game-high honors, scoring 25 points.
The Mountain Lions will travel to Spearfish, S.D. to take on Black Hills State University Saturday night at 6 p.m.
