Box Score COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team fell to Midwestern State University 72-63 in their first game of the season.
 
INSIDE THE MATCH UP

• Final: UCCS 63, MSU 72
• Records: UCCS (0-1, 0-0 RMAC) | MSU (1-0, 0-0 LSC)
• Facility | Location: Gallogly Events Center | Colorado Springs, Colo.
• All-Time Series: UCCS moves to 3-2 in the all-time series against the Mustangs. 

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Mountain Lions struggled tremendously behind the three-point line in the first half, shooting just one for eight behind the arc with the one make by Derik Pranger in the last three minutes. Despite the challenges from deep, the Mountain Lions found success at the free-throw line, going nine for ten in the first half, with Jesse Iweze knocking down all five of his attempts to keep their deficit to two scores entering the half.
• The Mustangs' Will Shepherd recorded 14 points during the first half and was the leading scorer for both teams while the Mountain Lions did not have a scorer in double digits through the beginning 20 minutes.
• The shooting woes for the Mountain Lions carried over to the second half however they held their deficit to no larger than six points until graduate forward William Becker sank a layup off the feed in the paint by Santiago Ochoa to put UCCS up 47-46 with 11 minutes left in the game. On the next possession, Becker grabbed a rebound on the defensive end and found Pranger behind the arc for his second three of the game to take a four-point lead.
• UCCS held on to the lead for about five minutes, extending their margin as high as seven, when MSU's Pierre Sanders drained a three to put the Mustangs back on top 58-57 with 4:48 left to go in the game. After MSU took back the lead, they would not let up, sinking two more three pointers in a 14 to six run to close out the game.

 
GAME STATISTICS

• Two Mountain Lions finished in double figures as Becker tallied 17 points while Jezza Mckenzie ended with 11.
• The Mountain Lions finished with 39 rebounds to the Mustangs' 35 as Becker led the charge with eight on the afternoon.
• The Mountain Lions shot 38.7 percent from the field (24-of-62), 16.7 percent from the three-point line (4-of-24) and 84.6 percent from the free throw line (11-of-13).

           
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Friday's loss was the second in a row for the Mountain Lions against MSU with the previous loss on Nov. 11, 2023.

UP NEXT

• UCCS will play their next game at home tomorrow, Saturday Nov. 9 against Cameron University with tip off scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

 
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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.