COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs Mountain Lions men's basketball team fell to Colorado Mesa University, 86-70, Friday night as the Mavericks shot lights out, going 14-of-26 (54 percent) from downtown.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final: UCCS 70, CMU 86
- Records: UCCS (7-3, 1-2 RMAC) | CMU (6-3, 1-2 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: Gallogly Events Center | Colorado Springs, Colo.
- All-Time Series: This was the 52nd matchup between The Mountain Lions and the Mavericks, with CMU now having a 42-10 record against UCCS all time.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Mountain Lions started the game well, scoring the game's first five points after Mac Stodart started the game with a smooth jumper followed by Beni Fungula making an and-one layup, sinking the free throw and putting UCCS up 5-0 early on.
- CMU went on their own little run as they took the lead 8-7. That was until UCCS went on an 11-6 run that included three pointers from Sufyan Elkannan and Jon'il Fugett that had the Mountain Lions up 18-12 with 13:15 to go in the first half.
- The game remained close as the score was tied 25-25 with six minutes to go, but that's when CMU caught fire, going on an 18-5 run to close out the half. This stretch included the Mavericks shooting 3-of-5 from deep and forcing UCCS to turn the ball over four times. The Mavericks ended the first half leading 43-30.
- UCCS fought hard to open the second half, going on an 5-5 even run with CMU that included one of Fugett's three three-pointers made in the game, making the Mavericks lead 48-35. But within three minutes and 42 seconds, the Mavericks raised their lead all the way up 21 as the Mountain Lions struggled to defend CMU's hot shooting.
- With 4:52 to go in the game, sophomore guard, Jezza McKenzie splashed a three assisted by Elkannan to cut the Mavericks lead to 18 points, but eight seconds later, CMU's guard Blaise Threatt responded right back with a three of his own putting the Mavericks up 20 plus points once again.
- UCCS would win the final four minutes of the game by going on a 15-10 run, but the Mavericks hot shooting prevented the Mountain Lions from making any sort of comeback, resulting in the final score of 86-70.
GAME STATISTICS
- McKenzie shot the ball very well tonight going 4-of-6 from downtown to go along with a team high 17 points, also adding six rebounds and three assists.
- Elkannan scored 14 points off the bench tonight making 5-of-8 from the field overall.
- CMU was hot from deep, going 14-of-26 (54 percent) from three-point range compared to UCCS going 10-of-29 (34.5 percent) from three-point land.
- The Mountain Lions registered 22 points off the bench and shot 43.6 percent from the field (24-of-55) as the Mavericks recorded a field goal percentage of 54.4 percent (31-of-57) and got 17 points off the bench with Blaise Threatt leading the entire game in scoring with 24 total points.
- CMU beat UCCS tonight in points from turnovers (32-22), in the paint (32-22), and on fast breaks (15-5).
- UCCS started the game nicely from three, hitting 4-of-10 (40 percent) in the first half but cooling off in the second only going 6-of-19 (31.6 percent).
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Mavericks scored 43 points in each half, as the Mountain Lions recorded 30 points in the first half and 40 in the second.
- UCCS allowed the second most points they've allowed in a game this season tonight, second to Black Hills State who scored 87 points against the Mountain Lions in their loss on December 3rd.
- McKenzie's 17-point performance and four three pointers made goes down as a season high in both categories.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will be back tomorrow night as they host Westminster College at 7 p.m. at Gallogly Events Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
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.
