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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 to Host Chadron State and MSU Denver

1/21/2020 11:50:00 AM

By: Jake Wise - Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant
This Week's Games
  • The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team gets set to host Chadron State College (CSC) and Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) this weekend.
  • On Friday, January 24, UCCS takes on CSC at 7:30 p.m. inside the Gallogly Events Center.
  • On Saturday, January 25, UCCS will face off against MSU Denver at 7:30 p.m.
Game Coverage Last Time Out
  • UCCS suffered a pair of tough losses last weekend at the hands of Black Hills State University, 64-66, and South Dakota School of Mines, 49-71. The Mountain Lions are now 10-6 this season overall and 6-5 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC).
  • On Friday, UCCS got off to a slow start offensively against BHSU and ended the first half trailing by 12 points, 22-34. The Mountain Lions opened the second half with a 13-4 run to cut the deficit to three points, 35-38. From there is was a back and forth affair.
  • UCCS was able to tie the score at 42 all thanks to a pair of free throws from Padiet Wang, the second of which marked is 1,000th career point for the Mountain Lions.
  • Down the stretch, neither team could get a lead larger than three points, and it would be BHSU that made the final layup with just over a minute reaming to take home the 66-64 win.
  • Wang led all scorers with 20 points in the game including a game high four three pointers (4-7). He also added a game high seven boards. Blend Avdili, Alijah Comithier and Parker Gaddis rounded out the scoring for UCCS with 12, 11 and 10 points, respectively.
  • On Saturday, UCCS' slow start truly cost them as they made only eight field goals in the first half (8-22) as opposed to SDSM going 17-for-30. The Mountain Lions found themselves down 22 points after the first half, 20-42.
  • Despite holding SDSM to only 29 points in the second half, UCCS also scored only 29 in the half on their way to the 22-point loss.
  • Wang led the Mountain Lions with 12 points, while Peyton Kaiser went 3-for-4 (2-for-3 from 3PT) off the bench for his 10 points.
RMAC Record/Standings
  • The Mountain Lions now sit in the sixth spot of the RMAC after dropping two games last weekend.
  • Dixie State University and Black Hills State are tied atop the RMAC with 9-2 conference records, followed by Colorado Mesa University in the third spot with an 8-3 record and New Mexico Highlands University and Colorado School of Mines in a tie for fifth with 7-4 records.
The Series
  • Historically, UCCS has dominated CSC as they own a 24-14 record against the Eagles, which includes a 13-5 home record. The Mountain Lions are 8-2 in their last 10 matchups against CSC, including a 97-87 victory in the most recent game.
  • Against MSU Denver, UCCS has struggled historically as they have only seven all time against the Roadrunners. However, six of those seven wins have come in their last 10 matchups, and UCCS won the most recent game against MSU Denver 71-70.
Scouting Report
  • CSC has struggled this season as they currently have a 3-14 overall record, which includes a 2-9 record in the RMAC. The Eagles are averaging 74.2 points per game and allowing 77.8 points per game this season. CSC is shooting 42.7 percent from the field, 34.5 percent from three and 75.5 percent from the free throw line this year as well.
  • The Eagles are also averaging 35.4 rebounds, 14.1 assists, 16.5 turnovers and 5.3 steals per game this year.
  • Individually, Brian Rodriguez-Flores is the team's leading scorer at 17.3 points per game. He also leads the team in rebounds with 97 this season (5.7 per game). Jackson Colby and Jacob Jefferson are the next highest scorers at 11.4 and 11.1 points per game, respectively. Colby also leads the team in assists with 94 (5.5 per game).
  • MSU Denver has a 9-8 overall record this season and a 5-6 record in the RMAC, which puts them in a three-way tie for the ninth position in the conference and only one game back of UCCS. The Roadrunners are playing teams very close this year, averaging 69.6 points per game and allowing 69.5 points per game. They are shooting 41.8 percent from the field, 32.6 percent from the three-point line and 67.1 percent from the charity stripe.
  •  MSU Denver is also averaging 37.3 rebounds, 10.6 assists, 13.6 turnovers, 5.7 steals and 4.1 blocks this season.
  • Individually, Druce Asah is the only player averaging double figures offensively for MSU Denver at 14.2 points per game. He also leads the team in three pointers made with 39. Mitch Lombard leads the team in assists with 66 (3.8 per game) and Kendall McIntosh leads the team in rebounds with 91 (5.4 per game).
Hot Takes
  • UCCS is still outscoring their opponents by almost five points per game on average (4.5) this season, averaging 72.0 points per game and allowing 67.5 points per game. The Mountain Lions are shooting nearly 46 percent from the field (45.9) and 37.3 percent from long range.
  • The Mountain Lions are also averaging 37.1 rebounds, 14 assists, 6.3 steals and 4.9 blocks per game this year.
  • Senior Padiet Wang eclipsed 1,000 points over the weekend after scoring 32 points in both games combined. He now sits at 1,019 points for his career, only six points away from 10th all-time in UCCS history.
  • Wang remains the team's leading scorer among active players at 15.8 points per game. He also leads the team in steals with 33 this year (2.1 per game). Those 33 steals give him 136 for his career, which is the third most in UCCS history.
  •  Redshirt Senior Blend Avdili ranks second on the team in points per game at 12.3.
  • Avdili also remains the team's most prolific three-point shooter with 39 made threes this season. Freshman William Becker continues to pace the Mountain Lions in blocks (21) and rebounds (96, 6.4 per game).
  • Junior Parker Gaddis remains the top distributor for UCCS with 62 assists.
  • Freshman Payton Kaiser recorded a season high 10 points against SDSM on Saturday, going 3-for-4 from the field, 2-for-3 from three and 2-for-2 from the free throw line off the bench for UCCS.
RMAC Leaders
  • As a team, UCCS ranks first in the RMAC in fewest points allowed per game (67.5), blocked shots (78), blocked shots per game (4.9) and rebounding margin (+5.4). They also rank second in offensive rebounds per game (10.8), third in opponent's shooting percentage (42.7 percent), fourth in rebounds per game (37.1) and opponent's rebounds per game (31.7), fifth in 3PT shooting percentage (37.3, tied) and sixth in assists per game (14) and steals per game (6.25).
  • Padiet Wang ranks third in the RMAC in steals (33) and steals per game (2.1). He also ranks ninth in blocks (13) and blocks per game (0.8) and 11th in scoring (15.8 PPG).
  • William Becker ranks first in the RMAC in blocks per game (1.4, tied) and third in blocked shots (21), offensive rebounds (34) and offensive rebounds per game (2.3). He also ranks ninth in rebounds per game (6.4, tied).
  • Blend Avdili ranks second in the RMAC in 3PT percentage (38.2 percent), fifth in threes made per game (2.4, tied) and seventh in three pointers made (39).
  • Ed Bourke ranks sixth in the RMAC in blocked shots per game (0.9, tied) and ninth in blocked shots (14).
  • Parker Gaddis ranks sixth in the RMAC in assists per game (3.9, tied) and 10th in assists (62, tied).
UCCS Under Coach Jeff Culver
  • UCCS now has a record of 124-97 with coach Culver leading the charge. This weekend poses two opponents which coach Culver has had success against in recent years. After a tough performance last weekend, coach Culver will look to right the ship starting Friday night.
Upcoming Games
  • Next weekend, UCCS will be at home as they get set to host New Mexico Highlands University and Colorado State University – Pueblo.
  • On Friday, January 31, UCCS hosts NMHU at 7:30 p.m. inside Gallolgy.
  • On Saturday, February 1, UCCS takes on CSUP at 7:30 p.m.
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