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PREVIEW | UCCS Prepares to Host South Dakota Mines and Black Hills State

2/18/2020 11:18:00 AM

By: Jake Wise - Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant
This Week's Games
  • The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team returns home to the Gallogly Events Center this weekend to take on South Dakota School of Mines (SDSM) and Black Hills State University (BHSU).
  • On Friday, February 21, UCCS takes on SDSM at 7:30 p.m.
  • On Saturday, February 22, UCCS will face off against BHSU at 7:30 p.m.
Game Coverage Last Time Out
  • UCCS came away empty handed last weekend as they lost to both Colorado State University – Pueblo, 58-74, and New Mexico Highlands University, 86-98. That brings the Mountain Lions' record to 15-9 this season overall and 11-8 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC).
  • The game against CSU–Pueblo was a struggle offensively for UCCS as they shot 39 percent from the floor and 34 percent from three, while the ThunderWolves shot 47 percent from the floor and 35 percent from three. The Mountain Lions led for the first 15 minutes of the first half, but CSU–Pueblo took the lead with about one-minute left in the first half and never looked back.
  • To start the second half, CSU–Pueblo went on a 16-0 run and the Mountain Lions were not able to recover. Blend Avdili led the team with 20 points and cashed in a game high six three-pointers.
  • Against NMHU, the game was similar to the first matchup between these teams as it was another high-scoring affair with both teams shooting over 50 percent. UCCS shot 54 percent (31-57 FG) and NMHU shot just over 50 percent (50.8, 30-59 FG). However, the Cowboys shot nearly 60 percent from long range (59.1 percent) and added 25-of-28 free throws to outlast the Mountain Lions.
  • The first half was back-and-forth as neither team could pull away. UCCS had the largest lead of the first half at eight points as they took a one-point lead into the locker room, 41-40. The second half featured a 58-point performance from NMHU as opposed to 45 from the Mountain Lions.
  • Padiet Wang led the Mountain Lions in scoring with 28 points, followed by Ed Bourke with 17 points and a game high nine boards and Geoff Kelly with 14 points.
RMAC Record/Standings
  • After losing both games last weekend, UCCS now sits in a tie for sixth place in the RMAC with their 11-8 record. Westminster also sits in sixth with the same conference record.
  • Dixie State University and BHSU at tied atop the RMAC with 16-3 records followed by Colorado School of Mines in third with a 14-5 record. All three teams have clinched a spot in the RMAC Tournament. Sitting in a tie for fourth in the conference are Colorado Mesa University and SDSM with 12-7 records.
The Series
  • In 10 total games against SDSM, UCCS has a 6-4 record. Earlier this season, the Hardrockers handed UCCS a 49-71 loss. The Mountain Lions will look to avenge that loss on Friday.
  • Against BHSU, UCCS has a slight edge with their 9-8 all-time record. In the matchup earlier this season, BHSU stymied a UCCS second half comeback attempt and took the victory, 64-66. The Mountain Lions will again look to get even on Saturday.
Scouting Report
  • SDSM has a 15-10 overall record and a 12-7 conference record this season. They are averaging 76.9 points per game and allowing 68.2 points per game while shooting 48.7 percent from the field and 40.1 percent from three-point range. The Hardrockers are also averaging 34.9 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 11.8 turnovers and 5.3 steals per game this season.
  • Individually, Alec Williams is the top scorer for the Hardrockers at 16.7 points per game, followed by Mitchell Sueker at 14 points per game and Logan Elers at 11 points per game. Sueker leads the team in rebounds (134, 5.4 per game) while Williams leads the team in assists (85) and steals (43).
  • Jack Fiddler leads the team in threes with 49 and is shooting 50.5 percent from long distance this season.
  • BHSU has an overall record of 19-6 and a conference record of 16-3 this season, firmly placing them in a first-place tie in the RMAC. The Yellow Jackets are averaging 77.7 points per game while allowing 70 point per game this season. They are shooting 51.2 percent from the field, 38.1 percent from three and 72.9 percent from the free throw line this year as well.
  • BHSU also averages 35.2 rebounds, 11.6 assists, 13.4 turnovers and 5.3 steals per game this season.
  • Joel Scott is the leading scorer for the Yellow Jackets at 17.6 points per game, followed by Trey Whitley and Tyler Oliver at 15.3 points per game and 13.9 points per game, respectively. Oliver leads the team in rebounds (185, 7.4 per game), assists (102) and steals (43). Sava Dukic leads the team in threes made with 37.
Hot Takes
  • The Mountain Lions are right in the thick of things in terms of the race to the RMAC postseason after dropping both games last weekend.
  • Senior Ed Bourke turned in his best performance of the season against NMHU on Saturday with 17 points, nine rebounds and four blocks, all season highs.
  • UCCS is averaging 73.8 points per game and allowing 69.3 points per game this season. They are shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 37 percent from long distance while averaging 37.5 rebounds, 14.5 assists, 5.8 steals and 4.7 block per game this season.
  • Senior Padiet Wang remains idle as the team's top scorer averaging 16.4 points per game. Wang also leads the team in steals (43) and now leads the team in assists as well with 90. Blend Avdili still ranks second on the team in scoring at 13.3 points per game and still leads the team with 62 made threes this season.
  • Wang now holds a slight edge over Avdili in career points as he sits at 1,160 and Avdili sits at 1,155. That places them in the fifth and sixth positions on the UCCS All-Time Scoring list.
  • Redshirt freshman William Becker remains the team's leader in rebounds with 148 (6.4 per game), 53 of which are offensive rebounds. Becker also continues to head up the block party for UCCS with 32 blocks.
RMAC Leaders
  • UCCS leads the RMAC in blocked shots per game (4.67), offensive rebounds per game (10.7) and offensive rebounds (257). They also rank second in rebounds per game (37.5) and rebounding margin (+6.2), third in points allowed per game (69.3) and rebounds allowed per game (31.3), fourth in opponent shooting percentage (42.8 percent) and assists per game (14.4) and fifth in assists (249, tied).
  • William Becker ranks first in the RMAC in offensive rebounds per game (2.3, tied) and second in offensive rebounds (53), blocked shots (32) and blocked shots per game (1.4).
  • Padiet Wang ranks fourth in the RMAC in steals per game (1.8, tied), fifth in steals (43, tied), sixth in scoring (16.4 PPG) and seventh in assists per game (3.8, tied).
  • Blend Avdili ranks fifth in the RMAC in threes made per game (2.6, tied), seventh in threes made (62) and eighth in three-point shooting percentage (38 percent).
  • Ed Bourke ranks seventh in the RMAC in blocked shots per game (0.9, tied) and eighth in blocks (22).
UCCS Under Coach Jeff Culver
  • UCCS is now 129-100 under head coach Jeff Culver. After a tough weekend last week, coach Culver will look to right the ship with only three games reaming in the regular season. This weekend poses a great opportunity for UCCS to climb the standings of the RMAC with a couple of wins.
Upcoming Games
  • Next weekend marks the end of the regular season for the Mountain Lions.
  • On Friday, February 28, UCCS will host Colorado School of Mines for their regular season finale. The game is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. inside the Gallogly Events Center.
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