GOLDEN, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team couldn't keep pace with Colorado School of Mines, falling by a final score of 71-59 Saturday night in Golden.
INSIDE THE MATCH UP
- Final Score: UCCS 59, CSM 71
- Records: UCCS (9-8, 5-6 RMAC) | CSM 15-3 (9-1 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: Lockridge Arena | Golden, Colo.
- All-Time Series: The Orediggers and Mountain Lions met for the 52nd time this evening, with the Orediggers holding a 39-12 record over UCCS. Head Coach Jeff Culver owns a 5-15 record vs the Orediggers as UCCS head coach.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- It was all Orediggers in the opening ten minutes of the competition. Majok Deng's six points led the home squad on a 19-8 run, with Mines shooting a sizzling 50 percent from the field as a unit. With three triples, and a steal, the Orediggers were in control at the halfway mark of the first half.
- The Mountain Lions picked up their offensive pace as the first half wound down, but CSM didn't show signs of slowing. Nineteen points, this time for the black and gold, featured points from five different scorers including seven from the charity stripe. The Orediggers, however, drained 22 in the final 10 minutes of the first, sharing the rock with seven different scorers.
- As the second half proceeded, again it was the Orediggers that held the scoring advantage. Hot shooting seemed to find each white jersey, with four Mines attackers finding nylon. UCCS kept pace with the hosts much more effectively, but a few critical whistles gave Colorado School of Mines the edge once again, out pacing the visitors 15-12 to start the frame.
- UCCS picked up steam as the time ticked out in regulation, cutting the deficit from almost twenty with four minutes to play, to just ten with two minutes to go. A Shareef Jaudon triple was the Mountain Lions make-or-break opportunity, but wouldn't fall. Forced into the foul game, Mines hit the necessary free throws, and captured the win at home by a final of 71-59.
GAME STATISTICS
- Xavier Martinez's 12 points led UCCS, with Adam Krasovec's 17 leading all scorers Saturday night.
- UCCS shot 32 percent from the field in Golden, with the Orediggers hitting an impressive 44 percent of their shots.
- The Mountain Lions got it done from the free throw line, shooting 86 percent on free opportunities.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- UCCS had just five assists as a team at Lockridge this evening, the fewest total in a single game this season.
- UCCS' 59 points was the second lowest mark of the season for the team.
- The Mountain Lion's three blocks equaled the third most in a single game this year.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will return to Gallogly Events Center on Friday to host Chadron State College at 7 p.m.
SOCIAL
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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.
