SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team struggled from the floor Saturday afternoon, losing 81-64 to Westminster University to return home with a split on the weekend.
INSIDE THE MATCH-UP
Final: UCCS 64, WU 81
Records: UCCS (5-3, 1-1 RMAC), WU (7-3, 1-1 RMAC)
Facility: Behnken Field House | Salt Lake City, Utah
All-Time Series: Despite the loss UCCS still leads Westminster 8-5 in the 13 all-time meetings between the programs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- To begin the first half the Griffins came out shooting, with the hosts getting a layup, turnover, then three pointer in the first minute of action. From that point forward in the first half, UCCS had to play catch up to the Griffins.
- In the opening ten minutes, Westminster was able to push their lead to as much as nine points (13-4) with fifteen and a half minutes to go. The game high lead got the attention of the Mountain Lions who called a timeout shortly after to get their attack in order.
- After the timeout, UCCS answered the call from the bench. Led by six points from Derek Pranger off two three-pointers, the Mountain Lions marched on an 11-7 run to cut the lead back down to just three points at 20-17 with ten minutes to play in the half.
- Though the Mountain Lions got the next bucket to pull within a point, Westminster's offense went back to work in the final ten minutes. Four different Griffins scored four points in the final ten minutes, with others adding baskets as well help Westminster on a 20-14 run over the final nine minutes. To cap off the run, the Mountain Lions turned the ball over at center court allowing Sam Martin a break-away slam to end the half with Westminster leading 40-31 heading to the room.
- To start the second half, Westminster picked up right where they left off from the first frame. Led by seven points from Simom Akena, the Griffins outscored the Mountain Lions 20-17 in the opening ten minutes of half number two.
- Down the stretch of the game, Westminster kept the Mountain Lions at arm's length until the final buzzer, adding another 23-16 run in the dying minutes. Turnovers and three-point shooting struggles were the downfall of UCCS in Salt Lake as they are handed the 81-64 loss on the road.
STATS FROM THE GAME
- William Becker for UCCS and Donaval Avila for WU led all scorers in the first half of play, each with ten points. Both were also perfect from the charity stripe with Becker hitting 4-4 and Availa going 5-5.
- Three-point shooting was a big point of difference in this game, with UCCS going 2-17 from beyond the arc, including 0-10 in the second half while Westminster knocked down 5-11 three balls.
- Westminster and UCCS were even with 12 turnovers a side, but the Griffins translated their opportunities into 19 points off of turnovers while UCCS converted theirs into just nine points.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- .This is the first victory for Westminster University over the Mountain Lions since February of 2023.
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
