COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. – The Mountain Lions played a physical game and made a run late against CSU Pueblo, but time ran out on an exciting finish that resulted in a 72-67 loss on Saturday night.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: UCCS 67, CSUP 72
Records: UCCS (9-6, 4-5 RMAC), CSUP (8-8, 5-5 RMAC)
Facility: Gallogly Events Center | Colorado Springs, Colo.
All-Time Series: After a three-game winning streak against the ThunderWolves, the Mountain Lions record against CSUP falls to 14-43.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Both defenses showed their strengths early in the contest as neither team was able to eclipse more than two points through the first four and a half minutes. Shots started to fall for the ThunderWolves as they jumped to an 11-4 lead after the scoring drought.
- The Mountain Lions fell behind early but clawed their way back into a one-point deficit courtesy of a Wyatt Dolberry three-pointer at the midway point in the first half. After a CSUP free throw, Dolberry tied the game with a layup on the next possession that brought the score to 16 even.
- While the score was kept close for a while, the ThunderWolves struck fire and started to pull away from the Mountain Lions as they went into the half with a 33-22 lead.
- A pair of three pointers along with points in the paint early in the second half from Bobby Martin and Mac Stodart kept the Mountain Lions within striking distance, but CSUP fought back and extended their lead to as large as 15 points with a score of 49-34.
- The scoring would continue to go back and forth, and the hot hand of Mac Stodart gave life to UCCS as he sunk his third three-pointer of the game with 4:12 remaining to bring the Mountain Lions with nine points of the lead.
- With time dwindling, Jon'il Fugett hit a three-point shot on a fastbreak with :39 left. The Mountain Lions forced a turnover on the next possession which led to another three-point jump shot from Alijah Comithier where he drew the foul and made all three of his free throws to narrow the deficit to four points with :22 remaining.
- A Jezza McKenzie layup with :12 on the clock brought the score to 70-67 with the ThunderWolves still holding the lead. The UCCS defense tried to clamp down in the final seconds and force a turnover but were unsuccessful in doing so as the ThunderWolves were able to inbound the ball and draw a foul that extended their lead to five. The two made free throws from CSUP with :10 left in the game sealed the win for the ThunderWolves with a score of 72-67.
STATS FROM THE GAME:
- UCCS rewarded themselves with good defensive play as they scored 21 points off turnovers.
- The Mountain Lions showed their depth as 34 of their points came from players off the bench. In the first half, 14 of the 22 points scored by UCCS were from players off the bench
- Good three-point shooting in the second half kept the Mountain Lions in the game with a shooting percentage of 37.5% from beyond the arc.
- The Mountain Lions played well down the stretch as they more than doubled their first half point total with 45 points in the second half.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- Mac Stodart scored a career high 13 points as well as recording career highs in three-point field goals made with three, and field goals made with five.
- Jon'il Fugett recorded a career high five rebounds with two offensive boards and the other three coming on the defensive side. He also collected three steals which ties a career high for Fugett.
UP NEXT:
- UCCS returns to Gallogly on Monday, January 17th as they host Adams State at 5:00 p.m.
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.
