COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team handed No. 9 Fort Lewis College Skyhawks their first loss in RMAC play Friday night behind an impressive second half effort, leading to a 79-70 victory.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final: UCCS 79, FLC 70
- Records: UCCS (7-8, 3-6 RMAC) | FLC (12-2, 7-1 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: Gallogly Events Center | Colorado Springs, Colo.
- All-Time Series: This was the 54th matchup between the Mountain Lions and the Skyhawks with Fort Lewis still maintaining a 40-14 all-time series record.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Friday night's contest began with the Skyhawks on the attack as they opened the game with a 10-6 advantage after the first three minutes of play. A James Ellis three assisted by Mac Stodart sparked a 13-4 UCCS run that included three-pointers from Shareef Jaudon and Hannes Saar to give the Mountain Lions a 19-14 lead with a little over 11 minutes remaining in the first half.
- Fort Lewis immediately responded with a 17-5 run of their own as they gained a 31-24 lead with 3:27 to go before half. Ellis would hit another three to spark a 7-0 UCCS run that would eventually see them notching the game up at 31 apiece after Stodart hit a three with 20 seconds to go before the break. The game would remain 31-31 heading into the second half.
- UCCS came out in the second frame on a mission to upset their top seeded conference opponent and would make an 8-to-4 push in the first three minutes of the half to position them up 39-35. But like they had done all night, Fort Lewis responded swiftly, and would do so be recapturing a 53-51 lead with a little under 11 minutes to go.
- The two teams traded blows the next four minutes as the Fort Lewis lead remained up two. The momentum completely shifted for UCCS after Xaiver Martinez nailed a three on an assist from Jayden Washington that would boost the Mountain Lions to a 9-0 run that was capped off by an emphatic two-handed slam from Jesse Iweze, putting them up seven with 3:12 to go in the game.
- The Skyhawks did all they could to come back but the Mountain Lions momentum remained too strong for Fort Lewis to handle. UCCS would keep calm and collected as they made the plays down the stretch to secure the impressive 79-70 victory.
GAME STATISTICS
- After an even 31-31 score in the first half, UCCS outscored Fort Lewis 48-39 in the second behind efficient shooting from the field (17-of-30) and from hot three-point shooting (6-of-13).
- Leading the charge for the Mountain Lions was Noah Baca who scored a team high 20 points to go along with five assists, four rebounds, and two steals while shooting 8-of-10 from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 from beyond the arc.
- Four different Mountain Lions hit multiple three-pointers tonight with those being Baca (four), Ellis (two), Iweze (two), and Martinez (two).
- The Mountain Lions defense held the Skyhawks to just 3-of-13 (23.1 percent) from downtown while shooting 14-of-32 (43.8 percent) themselves.
- UCCS won the battle in rebounds (32-28), assists (25-6), steals (5-3), blocks (3-1), and second chance points (8-6).
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Tonight's victory over No. 9/16 ranked Fort Lewis is UCCS' first win over a ranked opponent since their victory over No.13 Colorado School of Mines nearly 10 years ago during the 2014-15 postseason.
- The Mountain Lions shared the ball the best they have this year tonight with a season high 25 assists.
- Tonight's 14 three-pointers made are the most UCCS has sank this season as a team.
- Baca's 20 points in tonight's contest is a new career high. His four three-pointers made is also a new career high. His four three-pointers ties a new season high by any Mountain Lion in a single game this season.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions take on Adams State University tomorrow night 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 14 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
