COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team turns in a strong performance from start to finish, downing the Colorado Mesa Mavericks 71-57.
INSIDE THE MATCH-UP
Final: UCCS 71, CMU 57
Records: UCCS (13-7, 7-5 RMAC), CMU (12-8, 6-6 RMAC)
Facility: Gallogly Events Center | Colorado Springs, Colo.
All-Time Series: UCCS holds a 12-45 record against the Mavericks, though have now won both match-ups this season vs CMU.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Mountain Lions jumped on the Mavericks early, scoring the first seven points of the contest. CMU required almost three minutes to drop their first bucket, but then cut the lead in half over the next three minutes to bring the score to 12-6 at the 14:32 mark of the first half.
- UCCS went back on the attack as they embarked on a 12-0 run over the next 4:41 of game time. CMU earned a foul which sent Ben Kaye to the line at the 9:51 mark, and Kaye's two broke the scoring drought for the Mavericks to bring the score to 24-8 in favor of UCCS.
- Down the stretch, the teams traded baskets with CMU's Ty Allred hitting a midrange jumper with 27 seconds left in the half to close out the period, as the Mountain Lions entered the locker room with the comfortable 17-point lead at 38-21.
- The Mountain Lions continued their relentless pressure to start the second half as Derik Pranger swiped a Maverick pass and raced down the floor for UCCS' first bucket of the period. Three minutes later with 15:35 to play in the game, it was again Pranger who put his defender on the floor with a slick fake then drained the triple to push UCCS' lead to twenty points, 47-27.
- With seven minutes to play, a pair of Harvey White free throws cut the lead down to ten for UCCS, but Mesa could never get over the hump. UCCS closed the game with a 13-10 run to put away the Mavericks 71-57.
STATS FROM THE GAME
- Xavier Martinez was the leading scorer in the contest with 17 points, William Becker (15), Derik Pranger (12), Jezza McKenzie (10), and Hannes Saar (10) all finished in double digits. No Mavericks dropped double figures in the game.
- Martinez was one assist shy of a double-double, as William Becker's eight rebounds left him just two shy of his tenth double-double of the season.
- All 11 Mountain Lions that were active on Saturday recorded minutes vs CMU.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- UCCS finishes their four game home stand with a 3-1 record as they prepare to head north for a weekend in South Dakota.
- Head Coach Jeff Culver picks up his 199th career win as UCCS head man.
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 14 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
