DENVER – The No. 6 seed University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team fell to No. 3 seed Regis University Tuesday night, 80-78, in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference quarterfinal round.
UCCS trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half, but ended the half outscoring Regis 23-12. The Mountain Lions grabbed a 50-49 lead with 13:16 left in regulation after
Elijah Ross drained a three-pointer. The Mountain Lions and Rangers traded baskets and the lead for the next four minutes. After Ross' three-pointer, he added two more free throws followed by back-to-back three's from
Blend Avdili. Avdili's trey at 9:38 gave UCCS a 58-56 lead, but it was their last of the game as RU went on an 8-1 run.
The Mountain Lions started another comeback with two minutes remaining in the game. Down seven points,
DaRaun Clark made a basket from behind the arc, followed by Avdili's third three of the game. RU made two free throws to take a 79-76 lead with 40 seconds left, but Avdili added two more points from the free throw line to cut the lead to within one point.
Isaiah Wilson secured a defensive rebound with 27 seconds remaining, but two turnovers by the Mountain Lions and a free throw by Regis ended the Mountain Lions season.
Three Mountain Lions scored in double figures behind
Padiet Wang's team leading 18 points. Wang, who played all but three minutes tonight, made 6-of-9 field goals, both three-pointers and all four free throw attempts. He also added five rebounds, all of which came on the defensive glass.
Avdili added 13 points in 23 minutes after sinking three treys and both free throws.
Elijah Ross chipped in 10 points behind 3-of-4 field goal shooting and 2-of-3 three-pointers.
Both teams shot 50 percent from the floor with the Mountain Lions drilling 25-of-50 field goals and 10-of-23 from downtown (43.5 percent).
UCCS outrebounded the Rangers, 31-24, and the Mountain Lions bench outscored the Rangers, 31-25.
The Rangers were led by Jarrett Brodbeck's 22 points.
The loss ends the Mountain Lions season at 17-12 overall.