ST. GEORGE, Utah – Starting the New Year facing the No. 13^th ranked team in Division II, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team fell on the road Friday night to Dixie State University, 75-61.  The loss moves the Mountain Lions to 7-4 overall and 3-3 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.  No. 13 DSU remains undefeated in conference play and improve to 11-1 overall (6-0 RMAC).
 
The Mountain Lions entered halftime with an 18-point deficit, 46-28, but outscored the Trailblazers in the second half, 33-29.  UCCS was held to 34.8 percent from the floor in the first half and only 21.4 percent from three-point range, while the Trailblazers sank 50 percent of their attempts from the floor and behind the arc.
 
UCCS caught fire in the second half from long range, hitting 6-of-11 (54.5 percent).  Geoff Kelly and Blend Avdili combined to hit 5-of-8 from downtown in the second half as part of their 18 points.
 
Avidili paced the Mountain Lions with 13 points and 10 rebounds, all of which came on the defensive end of the court.  Kelly matched Avdili's 13 points while Padiet Wang netted a team high 14 points.
 
All seven of Avdili's and Kelly's combined field goals tonight were treys.  Wang sank 5-of-11 from the floor and 3-of-7 from the charity stripe to go with his seven assists and two steals.
 
DSU was led by Frank Staine's 20 points, six rebounds, three dimes and three steals.
 
UCCS was sent to the free throw line 36 times and connected for 18 free throws (50 percent).  The Mountain Lions finished the contest shooting 37 percent from the floor (17-of-46) and 36 percent from behind the arc (9-of-25).
 
The Mountain Lions will continue their road trip through Utah to face Westminster College Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.