COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team shot 55.8 percent from the field to lock up an 81-78 victory over New Mexico Highlands University.
INSIDE THE MATCH UP
- Final: UCCS 81, NMHU 78
- Records: UCCS (11-6, 5-4 RMAC) | CSC (8-9, 1-8 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: Gallogly Events Center | Colorado Springs, Colo.
- All-Time Series: UCCS moves to 28-25 in the all-time series against the Cowboys.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The first five minutes of the first half was a back-and-forth affair with seven lead changes as a three by sophomore guard Xavier Martinez and four points from William Becker helped position the Mountain Lions to pull away. The turning point for UCCS came when senior guard Hannes Saar sank two free throws with 14:42 left in the half to go up 14-13. After going up in the first five minutes, the Mountain Lions would not give up the lead for the remainder of the first half as Saar and Becker both contributed eight more points apiece as they went on a 32-26 run to take a 46-39 lead going into the second.
- The Mountain Lions saw their seven-point lead begin to deteriorate early in the second half as the Cowboys found themselves within two after sophomore guard Ja'Kwon Hill hit a floating jumper with 15:40 to go. UCCS pulled away yet again, extending their lead to as high as eight before the Cowboys found their stroke behind the arc to cut into the lead and tied the game at 70 with 6:48 left in the game.
- Needing an answer, junior guard Jezza McKenzie found Santiago Ochoa alone in the corner for a wide open three to regain the lead. On the next possession, McKenzie sank another three pointer for the Mountain Lions to extend the lead to six with 5:11 left to play. NMHU came back within three before Daniel Rosenber was fouled by Saar with one second left on the clock. At the line, Rosenber hit his first free throw, but missed the rim on the second for a potential rebound which gave the ball back to the Mountain Lions as well as helped them secure the win.
GAME STATISTICS
- Becker, Martinez, Saar, and McKenzie were the four Mountain Lions to finish in double figures on Saturday with Becker leading the team with 23 points.
- The Mountain Lions and the Cowboys both finished with 27 rebounds with Becker's 10 being the team leader.
- The Mountain Lions shot 55.8 percent from the field (29-of-52), 35.3 percent from the three-point line (6-of-17) and 81 percent from the free throw line (17-of-21).
- UCCS had 17 points off turnovers, 46 in the paint, eight second chance, 15 off fast breaks, and 14 from the bench.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Becker recorded his ninth double-double of the season on Thursday night.
UP NEXT
- UCCS will play their next game at home on Saturday, Jan. 25 as they take on Fort Lewis College with tipoff scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
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 16 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
