PUEBLO, Colo. – Needing a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team cruised to a 23-point win Friday night at Colorado State University Pueblo, 70-47.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final: UCCS 70, CSUP 47
- Records: UCCS (15-13, 9-12 RMAC) | CSUP (11-16, 7-14 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: Massari Arena | Pueblo, Colo.
- All-Time Series: UCCS trails the all-time series with CSUP, 43-15.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Mountain Lions were a threat from long range, sinking six three-pointers in the first half. William Becker used his defensive prowess from the opening possession with a steal followed by a jam and a 2-0 UCCS lead. Beni Fungula put his name in the scoresheet with four straight points for UCCS that included a bucket from downtown.
- The Pack's Isaiah Thompson put down eight of CSUP's first 10 points before Fungula dished the ball to Jayden Washington for a trey and the Mountain Lions fourth lead of the game, 11-10. Fungula kept delivering when he found Mac Stodart who drilled one from behind the arc and a 14-12 lead.
- With just under 10 minutes left in the opening half, the Mountain Lions went to work from long range, hitting three straight treys from Noah Baca, Stodart and Becker, boosting their lead to 10 points, 27-27 with 8:17 remaining.
- After drawing a foul, Becker was sent to the line where he made both attempts and a 31-19 UCCS lead, but the home team would close out the half outscoring UCCS 7-2 as the Mountain Lions took a 33-26 lead into halftime.
- Five Mountain Lions found the bottom of the net from long range behind Stodart's two three-pointers in the first half. Becker put in a solid line, making both field goal attempts and both free throw attempts to go with five rebounds, three blocks and three steals.
- UCCS came out of the locker room and immediately applied pressure to the home team with a 9-0 run while forcing the Pack to miss three shots and turn the ball over twice in less than four minutes. Stodart started the scoring spree with a dunk from Fungula's dime before Jon'il Fugett started in on the scoring action, netting five straight points with a layup and pull up three-pointer. Jezza McKenzie stole the ball that led to a dunk from Becker to cap off the 9-0 run. The Mountain Lions cruised past the ThunderWolves in the final 10 minutes of action while holding a lead of at least 18 points or more.
GAME STATISTICS
- Four Mountain Lions scored in double figures behind Stodart's and Fungula's team high 16 points. Stodart finished the game making 7-of-13 from the floor to go with five rebounds and three assists. Nine of Fungula's 16 points came from free three-point range. He also added five rebounds and a game high five assists.
- Fugett finished the game polishing off 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. Becker pulled down a game high eight rebounds and paired it with nine points, three blocks, three steals and three assists.
- Washington came off the bench and hit two three-pointers as part of his 10 points.
- The Mountain Lions shot a solid 45.8 percent from the field (27-of-59), 39.3 percent from behind the arc (11-of-28) and 83.3 percent from the free throw line (5-of-6).
- The Pack were led by Isaiah Washington's 18 points.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Baca registered a career high six rebounds while Fungula's three treys were a career high tonight.
- UCCS' 5-of-6 free thorws made and attempted are season lows.
- The Mountain Lions held CSUP to a season low for an opponent in points (47), field goals (17) and field goal percentage (.279).
UP NEXT
- UCCS will close out the regular season tomorrow night at New Mexico Highlands University at 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.
