PUEBLO, Colo. – University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball opened the conference season with a 76-59 road win over Colorado State University Pueblo on Friday night as sophomore Alijah Comithier's goes off for a game-high 30 points.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 
Final: UCCS 76, CSU Pueblo 59
Records: UCCS (6-1, 1-0 RMAC), CSU Pueblo (3-4, 0-1 RMAC)
Location: Massari Arena | Pueblo, Colo.
Series: UCCS trails CSU Pueblo 14-42 in the all-time series with the Mountain Lions currently holding a three-game win streak.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• The eighth highest scoring offense in the nation was on display Friday night as the Mountain Lions jumped out to a commanding 42-24 lead through 20 minutes of play. UCCS' double-digit lead started with 10 of their first 12 points coming off the hot hand of Alijah Comithier who finished the first half with 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting (58.3 percent).
• CSU Pueblo and UCCS traded early buckets that resulted in a 7-7 tie at 17:12 but the Mountain Lions proceeded to rip off a 9-0 run on the ThunderWolves and would not let go of the lead from that point on. Later at the 10:38 mark CSU Pueblo worked back to a two-point game but UCCS went off on another run with William Becker contributing four points in an 8-0 run.
• The ThunderWolves struggled to find a rhythm with the Mountain Lions limiting CSU Pueblo to 37 percent shooting from the field as UCCS dominated the boards with six different Mountain Lions notching three rebounds, including sophomore Devin Smith who also shot 4-of-6 for eight points off the bench.
• UCCS continued to keep the ThunderWolves at bay into the second half by grabbing 21 total rebounds with 17 of those coming on the defensive end. Comithier and the Mountain Lions stayed hot by recording a 50 percent shooting percentage (13-of-26) with Comithier posting a 12-point half that included a perfect 4-of-4 from the line.
• Over halfway through the second period, UCCS worked their way to the largest lead of the game after a 13-5 run gave the Mountain Lions a 27-point cushion at 3:43 with Mac Stodart draining a three to make it 72-45.
• CSU Pueblo ended the game by putting together a 14-4 run of their own as time ran out to give UCCS their first conference win of the season.

STATS FROM THE DAY:
• UCCS nearly doubled CSU Pueblo in total rebounds 47-29 with the Mountain Lions putting up 15 second chance points off 16 offensive rebounds.
• Alijah Comithier registers a game-high 30 points after going 11-of-12 from the field including 2-of-6 from long range and 6-of-6 from the free-throw line.
• Both Geoff Kelly and Wyatt Dolberry posted a team high seven rebounds with all of Dolberry's seven boards registered on the defensive side.
• Parker Gaddis handed out a team high four assists with the Mountain Lions totaling nine as a team.
• William Becker notches a game high two blocks and two steals while also adding six rebounds and five points.   
• UCCS finished with a 52.5 shooting percentage after going 31-of-59 as the Mountain Lions held CSU Pueblo to 35.9 percent from the field.  

BEYOND THE BOX:
• The Mountain Lions shot over 50 percent for the fifth game this season.
• UCCS has out-rebounded their opponent for the seventh consecutive game.
• Alijah Comithier registers his fourth career 30-point game.
• William Becker has recorded at least one block in all five of his games played.
• UCCS starts RMAC play with a 1-0 record for just the third time in the last 10 years.

UP NEXT:
• UCCS Men's Basketball is back on the road as the Mountain Lions travel to Alamosa, Colo. to take on Adams State University at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow night.
 
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.