WICHITA FALLS, Texas – University of Colorado Colorado Springs tipped-off their 2021-22 season in the win column Friday night after topping Midwestern State University at a final score of 87-78.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 
Final: UCCS 87, MSU 78
Records: UCCS (1-0, 0-0 RMAC), MSU (0-1, 0-0 LSC)
Location: D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Wichita Falls, Texas
Series: UCCS improves their all-time record to 2-0 against Midwestern State.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• UCCS and MSU traded early baskets in the opening minutes with William Becker and Alijah Comithier scoring the first points of the season off a pair of layups before Jon'il Fugett got the Mountain Lions rolling with back-to-back three-pointers to establish a 10-5 lead at 17:33.
• That was only the beginning for what was an impressive first half for the Mountain Lions as they were without the lead for just 91 seconds. UCCS shot 19-36 from the floor (53 percent) which led to a 12-2 run at the 4:36 mark and a 10-point Mountain Lion lead, 38-28.
• MSU tried to work their way back during the closing minutes by cutting the UCCS lead down to seven but Becker bumped the Mountain Lions up to a 45-36 lead after a made jumper from the 6-foot-9 forward left him with eight points and a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor in the first half.
• In the second half, the Mustangs and Mountain Lions continued to trade baskets as MSU chipped away at UCCS' lead to make it 51-48 at the 15:52 mark.
• Wyatt Dolberry would come off the bench to score UCCS' next eight points as he drained two shots from beyond the arc to help break the 56-56 tie and give the Mountain Lions their second lead of the half, 59-56 at the 11:52 mark.
• The Mustangs battled back once again tie the game at 63's with 8:17 left as MSU grabbed their first lead of the half by going up 66-65 with a made three-pointer at 7:10.
• MSU held on to the lead for 19 seconds before UCCS took over the game for good with the help of Comithier who went off for an 18-point half. A three-pointer from Fugett and a jumper from Becker pushed the Mountain Lions ahead 70-68 with 6:11 left as Comithier took over to go off for 14 of the next 17 Mountain Lion points to help propel UCCS to the 87-78 final.
 
STATS FROM THE DAY:
• Three of the five Mountain Lion starters scored double digits in the win.
• The Mountain Lions out-rebounded the Mustangs, 40-37.
• UCCS shot 34-70 in the game for 48.6 percent as 23 points came from the UCCS bench, including 12 points from Wyatt Dolberry.
• Alijah Comithier drops 30 points in the season opener after finishing 10-for-13 from the field and shooting 9-for-13 from the free throw line.
• Jon'il Fugett tied for a game high five assists as he went 3-for-5 from beyond the arc to finish with 11 points in his UCCS debut.  
• William Becker claimed a team high six rebounds while adding 12 points and shooting 6-for-8 from the field with three blocks.
• Six different Mountain Lions registered a steal with Jezza McKenzie posting a team high two steals.

BEYOND THE BOX:
• Alijah Comithier records his third 30-point performance of his career.
• Head Coach Jeff Culver now owns a 2-0 record over Midwestern State.

UP NEXT:
• UCCS Men's Basketball will head to Lawton, Okla. tomorrow evening as they take on Cameron University at 6:30 p.m. (MT).
 
SOCIAL:
Twitter - @GoMountainLions
Instagram - @gomountainlions 
Facebook – Go Mountain Lions
 
As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 16 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.