COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team loses its fourth game in a row as New Mexico Highlands University wins in an overtime thriller, 99-94, Friday night in Colorado Springs, Colo.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final: UCCS 94, NMHU 99
- Records: UCCS (13-8, 7-7 RMAC) | NMHU (8-12, 6-8 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: Gallogly Events Center | Colorado Springs, Colo.
- All-Time Series: This was the 49th matchup between the Mountain Lions and the Cowboys, with UCCS having a 26-23 advantage against NMHU all time.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- NMHU got out to an early 4-0 start and then the Mountain Lions replied with four straight three pointers made from four different starters to make their lead 12-6 with 15:42 to go in the half.
- UCCS maintained control throughout the first half, getting their lead up to 29-14 after a Jezza McKenzie three assisted by Mac Stodart. The Cowboys kept the game within striking distance, but the Mountain Lions would go into the half with a 52-39 lead.
- UCCS remained hot to start the second half bringing their lead up to 20 after Keegan Phillips laid in a basket assisted by McKenzie, making the lead 61-41 with 16:25 to go in the game.
- The Cowboys fought back and slowly chipped away at the deficit over the next 10 minutes and eventually took the lead 75-74 with 6:25 left in the game. Down three, the Mountain Lions were able to tie it up thanks to a made Jon'il Fugget jumpshot with the foul to knot it up at 82-82.
- Overtime was close to begin with both teams trading baskets back and forth. But the game would be decided at the free throw line with NHMU making theirs and UCCS missing too many resulting in the final score of 99-94.
GAME STATISTICS
- Fugett led the Mountain Lions in scoring tonight with 24 points, nine rebounds, and four assists.
- Despite the loss, UCCS shot well from three tonight going 13-of-30 (43.3 percent) overall but were cold in the second half and overtime going 3-of-14 (21.4 percent) from deep.
- UCCS had three three-pointers made each by four different Mountain Lions (Logan Bracamonte, Stodart, Fugett, and McKenzie).
- NMHU led UCCS in points from turnovers (22-14), points in the paint (50-32), second chance points (12-6), fast break points (15-11) and dominated in bench points (36-12).
- Cowboys guard Dante Moses, who scored 40 points tonight, is second in the RMAC in scoring at 24.1 points per game and third in all of Division II.
- Even with the loss, UCCS led the game for 32 and a half minutes compared to the Cowboys who led for nearly only 10 minutes.
- Both teams attempted 40 three throws with NMHU shooting 31-of-40 (77.5 percent) from the line and UCCS shooting 21-of-40 (52.5 percent) from the charity stripe.
- The Mountain Lions committed 23 turnovers with 14 coming in the second half alone.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Mountain Lions were shorthanded in tonight's battle, missing the contributions from three key players who play more then 15 minutes a game on average (William Becker, Jayden Washington, and Kyle Cabs).
- UCCS shot the most free-throw attempts they've had this season in tonight's game with 40 attempted.
- Fuggett collected a season in high in rebounds with nine, free throws made with nine, and minutes played with 42 total.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will head to Salt Lake City, Utah, next for a matchup against Westminster College on Friday, February 3rd at 7:00 p.m. at Behnken Field House.
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.
