RAPID CITY, S.D. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team gives South Dakota Mines all they can handle, but falls just short, dropping the road contest by a 83-79 final score.

 
INSIDE THE MATCH UP

• Final Score: UCCS 79, SDM 83
• Records: UCCS (11-14, 7-12 RMAC) | SDM (10-14, 8-10 RMAC)
• Facility | Location: Gallogly Events Center | Colorado Springs, Colo.
• All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions lead the Hardrockers 11-8 in the all-time series dating back to December of 2009. UCCS is 10-8 vs SDM under Jeff Culver.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Mountain Lions came out firing to start the game, as did the Hardrockers, with both sides combining for 32 shots in the first ten minutes of play. UCCS was more successful from the field during that stretch, knocking down 9-16 including a blazing 5-6 from beyond the arc. South Dakota Mines were right behind UCCS from the field at 8-16, but was just 2-6 from three-point range, giving UCCS the 23-18 lead at the halfway mark in the first.
• UCCS offense cooled off down the stretch in the first half, shooting 5-14 (35.7%) in the remainder of the first half. South Dakota, however, caught fire hitting 10-18 shots (55.5%) with junior guard Cameron Cohn leading the Rockers with 14 points during that stretch. SDM owned a narrow 42-39 lead at the break.
• As the second half commenced, the two sides traded blows with the Hardrockers working out to a six-point lead at 54-48. UCCS was able to battle back, tying it at 54, but the home squad built the lead back up to five as the game approached the final ten minutes of play.
• In the final minutes of action, the teams traded baskets, with UCCS still hitting from long range, but SDM going silent from three-point land. Unfortunately for the Mountain Lions, the Hardrockers were able to keep UCCS at arm's length despite their inability to hit from range, earning a hard fought four-point 83-79 win at home.

GAME STATISTICS

• UCCS was led by Jesse Iweze on both ends of the floor, as the big man went 8-14 from the field for 19 points, while also reeling in 7 rebounds and swiping three steals.
• Cameron Cohn followed up his impressive 16 point first half with seven more in the second half to lead the Hardrockers with 23 points.
• Keagen Smith's 14 points all came in the second half, as he was a big part of SDM being able to fend off the Mountain Lions as time ticked out.
• Smith and Cohn were a perfect 4-4 from the charity stripe, with South Dakota Mines shooting 76.9% as a team from the free throw line.
• Both teams took advantage of turnovers, with UCCS getting 16 points off giveaways, with SDM scoring 14 off turnovers.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• UCCS made a push in the dying minutes, but their last lead came at 7:37 of the second half, with South Dakota Mines holding strong defensively.
• Defeating UCCS in December on a buzzer-beating layup, the Hardrockers two wins over UCCS came by a score differential of just +6.
• UCCS now holds a 5-4 record in games that are decided by two or less possessions.

 
UP NEXT

• The Mountain Lions head to Gunnison on Saturday for their only game this upcoming weekend, as they are set to face off with the Mountaineers at 5 p.m.

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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.