LAS VEGAS, N.M. – Competing in their final game of the regular season, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team fell on the road to New Mexico Highlands University, 64-57.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final: UCCS 57, NMHU 64
- Records: UCCS (15-14, 9-13 RMAC) | NMHU (11-17, 9-13 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: John Wilson Complex | Las Vegas, N.M.
- All-Time Series: UCCS holds an all-time series edge over the Cowboys, 26-24, with the Cowboys winning three of the last four meetings.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- William Becker won the jump ball as the Mountain Lions moved the ball around on their first possession that ended in a layup from Mac Stodart. Stodart then secured an offensive rebound on the Mountain Lions next possession and found Beni Fungula for a driving layup and a 4-0 UCCS lead. Two possessions later Stodart threw down a dunk on Becker's assist and then added a triple from downtown as Stodart's seven points gave UCCS an early 9-5 lead five minutes into the action.
- NMHU came within two points of the Mountain Lions, 9-7, before Becker made both free throw attempts and a second chance layup to boost UCCS' lead back to six points.
- The home team responded with a 13-0 to run and their first lead of the game, 20-13, with 8:13 left in the opening half. NMHU's lead expanded to nine points before Becker and Stodart combined to net seven straight points. On an in-bounds play, Becker made a layup before Stodart cashed in a three-pointer and layup, bringing UCCS within two points, 24-22. Stodart added his third triple of the half with 1:59 remaining to knot the game at 27-27, but a layup from NMHU's Dante Moses with just 15 seconds left gave the Cowboys a 27-25 lead at intermission.
- Jon'il Fugett opened the second half with his first points of the game, hitting a three-pointer to give UCCS the lead back. After Jezza McKenzie secured a defensive rebound, Fungula added a jumper for a three-point lead. The Mountain Lions 12-5 run to start the third quarter put them in control, 37-32 just two minutes into the half.
- The Mountain Lions continued to hold the advantage over NMHU as both teams battled back and forth through the first 10 minutes of the second half. McKenzie's bucket from downtown at 10:53 gave UCCS another five-point lead, 51-46, but it would be the last lead of the night for UCCS as the home team went on a 12-0 run to snag a nine-point lead, 60-51 with 2:46. Moses drained a three-pointer to finish the run as NMHU took advantage of miscues from UCCS, scoring six points off of turnovers. The Mountain Lions were unable to regain the lead as they were held with at least a two-possession difference the remainder of the half, falling to the Cowboys, 64-57.
GAME STATISTICS
- Stodart scored 15 of his 18 points in the first half. He finished the game making 7-of-13 from the floor and 3-of-7 from long range.
- Becker reigned in a game high 16 rebounds to go with his eight points, two assists and two steals.
- Fungula hit six field goals as six of his 14 points came from downtown.
- All 10 of Fugett's points come in the final 20 minutes of action. He dished our four assists and added five caroms.
- McKenzie tallied a game high five dimes and chipped in five points and three rebounds.
- UCCS shot 35.4 percent from the floor (23-of-65), 18.4 percent from three-point range (7-of-38), and 66.7 percent from the charity stripe (4-of-6).
- The Cowboys hit on 42.4 percent in field goals (25-of-59), 38.5 percent from long range (5-of-13) and 69.2 percent from the free throw line (9-of-13).
- UCCS held a 37-34 rebounding advantage and outscored the Cowboys on second chance points, 14-8.
- NMHU was led by Moses' 26 points and 15 rebounds.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Becker's 16 rebounds are a career high and the most by a Mountain Lion since the 2015-16 season when Alex Welsh grabbed 17 rebounds in two different games.
- The Mountain Lions four free throws and six free throw attempts are the fewest in a game this season.
- Their 18.4 three-point field goal mark is the second lowest of the season, while the 57 points scored are the third fewest in a game.
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.
