COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A strong start Saturday night for the University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team fell short against the South Dakota School of Mines Hardrockers
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final: UCCS 67, South Dakota Mines 78
- Records: UCCS (13-12, 7-11 RMAC) | SDSM (8-16, 7-11 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: Gallogly Events Center | Colorado Springs, Colo.
- All-Time Series: UCCS leads the all-time series, 11-6.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Mac Stodart opened Saturday's game against the Hardockers with his first of five three-pointers on the night. A follow up trey from Jon'il Fugett and a layup from Beni Fungula gave UCCS an early 8-2 lead with less than three minutes off the clock. Fungula pulled down a defensive rebound that turned into an offensive possession for UCCS and another bomb from Stodart, giving the Mountain Lions their largest lead of the game, 11-2, at the 16:07 mark in the first half.
- The Hardrockers answered the early deficit with a 12-2 run of their own as they took a 14-13 lead behind 4-of-5 field goals and two three-pointers. The lead was short-lived as Stodart sank two buckets from behind the arc on the Mountain Lions next two trips down the court. Fugett netted two free throws to give UCCS a four-point cushion, 21-17. Both teams traded baskets over the course of two minutes but the Hardrockers' Trase Olsen sparked an 8-0 run as he and Kolten Mortensen drained buckets from behind the arc for a 29-25 lead with four minutes left in the half. The first half ended with three straight three-points. Fugett hit both of his three-pointers for the Mountain Lions as they headed into the locker room down one, 32-31.
- Fifteen seconds into the second half, Mortensen gave SDM a three-point lead before Fugett made his third three-pointer in a row to knot the game, 34-34. Jayden Washington put his name in the scorebook when he drained two from long range on two straight Mountain Lion possessions for a 40-36 UCCS lead. Stodart's fifth three-pointer of the game gave UCCS a 43-41 lead but it would be the Mountain Lions last lead of the game. Following Stodart's trey, the Hardrockers hit three straight of their in 90 seconds for a five point lead halfway through the second half. SDM kept their distance from the Mountain Lions as UCCS was only able to get within four points the remainder of the game.
GAME STATISTICS
- Fugett registered 26 points on 7-of-18 field goals and 6-of-11 three-pointers. He was flawless from the free throw line, making all four attempts.
- Fifteen of Stodart's 19 points came from downtown as he finished making 7-of-18 from the floor.
- Washington chipped in nine points off the bench and pulled in a team high seven rebounds. Both William Becker and Stodart reigned in six rebounds.
- Four Hardrockers scored in double figures led by Kolton Frugoli's 21 points.
- UCCS finished the night making 26-of-63 from the floor (36.5 percent), 15-of-35 three-pointers (42.9 percent) and all six free throw attempts.
- The Hardockers netted 39.7 percent from the floor (25-of-63), 53.8 percent from downtown (14-of-26) and 14-of-15 free throws (93.3 percent).
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Fugett's 26 points are the fifth most by a Mountain Lion this season. He has recorded four the top five highest scoring games this season for UCCS.
- Stodart's 18 field goal attempts, five made three-pointers and 10 three-point field goal attempts are career highs, while Fugett's 11 three-point field goal attempts is a career high.
- The Mountain Lions netted 15 three-pointers tonight, the second most in any game this year.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will stay inside Gallogly Events Center for a Tuesday night matchup against Regis University. Tipoff is slated for 7 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.
