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Dec 6, 2019; Colorado Springs, CO, USA; at Gallogly Events Center. Credit: Isaiah J. Downing
Isaiah J. Downing

PREVIEW | Men's Basketball in South Dakota This Weekend to Take on BHSU and SDSM

1/14/2020 2:10:00 PM

By: Jake Wise - Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant
This Week's Games
  • The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team will be on the road this weekend as they travel to South Dakota for a pair of conference matchups.
  • On Friday, January 17, UCCS will be in Spearfish, S.D. taking on Black Hills State University (BHSU) at 7:30 p.m.
  • On Saturday, January 18, UCCS heads to Rapid City, S.D. to face off against South Dakota School of Mines (SDSM) at 6 p.m.
Game Coverage Last Time Out
  • UCCS swept their weekend series as they took down Fort Lewis College (FLC) on Friday night, 80-70, and Adams State University (ASU) on Saturday night, 92-85. The Mountain Lions are now 10-4 overall this season, with a 6-3 record in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
  • On Friday UCCS had everything working offensively as they finished the game shooting 53.3 percent from the field, 37.5 percent from beyond the arc and 77.8 percent from the free throw line. They also tallied 19 assists, three blocks and seven steals in the game.
  • The Mountain Lions also outrebounded the Skyhawks 33-27 and held them to under 30 percent (29.4 percent) from long range in the game.
  • Padiet Wang led the way with 25 points and added seven boards, six assists and three steals. Close behind were Alijah Comithier and Blend Avdili with 20 and 18 points, respectively, as both players went 3-for-6 from three-point range to lead UCCS. Avdili also hauled in a game high nine rebounds.
  • UCCS was able to carry the offensive momentum from Friday night's win into Saturday as they put up a season high 92 points against ASU. Heading into halftime, UCCS had a 37-34 lead over ASU. In the second half, the Mountain Lions shot 55.6 percent from the field, 50 percent from three (5-10), and added 20-of-26 free throws to take home the seven-point victory.
  • Comithier led the team in this game with 28 points which included an 8-for-10 performance from the charity stripe. He also added a team high eight rebounds. Advili was the second leading scorer with 24 points, while William Becker added 16 points off the bench.
  • UCCS outrebounded ASU 44-30 and dished out 17 assists compared to ASU's eight.
RMAC Record/Standings
  • UCCS has moved up the RMAC rankings after two wins this past weekend. The Mountain Lions are in a tie with Colorado Mesa University for the fourth spot in the RMAC with their 6-3 conference record.
  • Dixie State University, Colorado School of Mines and Black Hills State are all in a tie for first in the conference with 7-2 RMAC records.
The Series
  • Against BHSU, UCCS owns a 9-7 overall record, which includes a 7-3 record in their last 10 meetings. In the most recent matchup between the teams, UCCS lost a close game, 76-79.
  • Against SDSM, UCCS has a 6-3 all-time record and are currently riding a two-game win streak. The most recent game featuring these two teams resulted in a 74-73 win for the Mountain Lions.
Scouting Report
  • BHSU has an overall record of 10-5 this season, which includes a 7-2 record in the RMAC. The Yellow Jackets are averaging 76.4 points per game and allowing 69.8 points per game this year while shooting 50.8 percent from the field, 35.8 percent from three, and 71.3 percent from the free throw line.
  • BHSU is also averaging 34.7 rebounds, 11.1 assists, 13.6 turnovers and 5.6 steals per game this season. The Yellow Jackets are currently riding a seven-game winning streak.
  • Individually, Joel Scott is the team's leading scorer averaging 17.1 points per game, followed by Tyler Oliver and Trey Whitley at 15.1 and 13 points per game, respectively. Oliver also leads the team in rebounds (124, 8.3 per game), assists (66, 4.4 per game), and steals (30, 2.0 per game).
  • Sava Dukic leads the team in three pointers made with 20.
  • SDSM currently has an overall record of 7-8, including a 4-5 record in the RMAC. The Hardrockers are averaging 74.5 points per game and allowing 69.1 points per game this season. They are shooting 46.9 percent from the field, 38.2 percent from beyond the arc and 71.3 percent from the line.
  • SDSM is also averaging 35.1 rebounds, 14 assists, 12.4 turnovers and 5.1 steals per game this season.
  • Mitchell Sueker is the team's leading scorer at 13.5 points per game, followed by Allec Williams and Logan Elers at 13.1 and 10.9 points per game, respectively. Elers leads the team in rebounds with 85 (5.7 per game), while Williams leads the team in assists (54, 3.6 per game) and steals (23).
  • Jack Fiddler is the top three-point shooter for the Hardrockers with 30 made threes this season.
Hot Takes
  • With their win on Saturday, UCCS has now won three straight games which matches their longest winning streak of the season so far. The 92 points scored against ASU was also a season high for the team.
  • The Mountain Lions are averaging 74.2 points per game and allowing only 67.4 points per game this season, thereby outscoring their opponents by almost seven points per game (6.8). As a team, they are shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 36.7 percent from three.
  • UCCS is also averaging 38.6 rebounds per game, 14.7 assists per game, 6.2 steals per game and 5.1 blocks per game.
  • Senior Padiet Wang remains the team's leading scorer at 15.8 points per game and is rapidly approaching 1,000 career points. Wang currently sits at 987 points for his career, meaning if he was to score his average points per game in either of the two games this weekend, he would eclipse the century mark for the Mountain Lions.
  • Redshirt senior Blend Avdili increased his average points per game to 13.2 after two great offensive performances last weekend. Avdili's layup in the 11th minute of the game  on Saturday against ASU marked his 1,001st career point at UCCS.
     
  • Freshman Alijah Comithier was the best offensive player for UCCS last weekend as he recorded two 20-point performances, including a career high 28 points against ASU on Saturday. Comithier is averaging just under 10 points per game this season (9.4).
  • Redshirt freshman William Becker also put up a career high against ASU with 16 points off the bench. He also remains the team's leader in rebounds (89, 6.8 per game) and blocks (17, 1.3 per game).
  • Junior Parker Gaddis now sits at a team high 58 assists this season, 4.14 per game.
RMAC Leaders
  • As a team, UCCS ranks first in the RMAC in fewest points allowed per game (67.4), blocked shots (72), blocked shots per game (5.1), total offensive rebounds (165), offensive rebounds per game (11.8) and rebounding margin (+7.2).
  • The also rank second in rebounds per game (38.6), second in opponent's shooting percentage (41.7 percent) third in assists per game (14.7) fourth in opponent rebounds allowed (31.9 per game), seventh in steals per game (6.4) and eighth in steals (87).
  • Padiet Wang ranks second in the RMAC in steals (31) and steals per game (2.2), sixth in blocks (13, tied) and block per game (0.9, tied) and 11th in points per game (15.8)
  • William Becker ranks first in the RMAC in offensive rebounds per game (2.6), second in blocks per game (1.4), second in total offensive rebounds (34), third in blocked shots (17) and fourth in rebounds per game (6.8, tied).
  • Ed Bourke is tied for sixth in the RMAC in blocked shots (13) and blocked shots per game (0.9).
  • Parker Gaddis ranks sixth in the RMAC in assist per game (4.1)
  • Blend Avdili ranks second in the RMAC in three-point field goal percentage (38 percent) and third in threes made per game (2.7).
UCCS Under Coach Jeff Culver
  • UCCS is now 124-95 under coach Culver. Their 10-4 start this season is their best record through 14 games since the 2014-15 season. With two games coming up against opponents they have had success against historically, Culver will look to add to the UCCS win streak.
Upcoming Games
  • Next weekend, UCCS returns home to face off against Chadron State College and MSU Denver.
  • On Friday, January 24, UCCS will take on Chadron State at 7:30 p.m.
  • On Saturday, January 25, UCCS goes up against MSU Denver at 7:30 p.m.
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