COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team come back down 18 points to defeat Cameron University 92-88.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final Score: UCCS 92, CU 88
- Records: UCCS (1-0) | CU (0-1)
- Facility | Location: Gallogly Events Center | Colorado Springs, Colo.
- All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions are 9-0 all time against the Aggies.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Aggies came out of the gates with a tenacious full court press, stealing the Mountain Lion's first inbound pass for an easy layup from Kalle Kuhalampi. Kuhalampi followed up his early layup with a mean block on Gunner Morinini's layup attempt two minutes later. Jayden Washington scored UCCS' first four points, with his fourth point coming off an offensive rebound. Jordan Peel's first three in the third minute began his efficient shooting half, giving the Aggies a 10-4 lead. In the first five minutes of the half, Cameron shot 60 percent from both the field and three, aiding to an 8-0 scoring run.
- The Mountain Lions began clawing back, having a strong defensive possession in the seventh minute which forced a last second shot from the Aggies. In the subsequent possessions, Josh Kotto went two for two from the free throw line and slammed down a fast break dunk. In the 10th minute, Evan McKeen cashed UCCS' first three of the game and cut the Aggies lead to single digits; 29-18. Morinini's layup kept the lead at eight, but Jonathan Mercera stole a UCCS inbound pass, resulting in a Peel layup, bringing the Aggies' lead back to double digits. Mercera ended the half hot, scoring three of his four first half baskets in the final ten minutes. Once again, a 17th minute Mountain Lion three from Morinini cut the Aggies lead down to nine, but Cameron ended the half with a 15-point advantage; 55-40.
- UCCS quickly forgot about their sub-par shooting half as Washington opened the second half with a corner three. Morinini then euro-stepped around a Cameron defender in the third minute to start an early 7-0 scoring run for UCCS. Joshua Ray and Shawn Williams both split a pair of free throws in the fifth minute to push UCCS' run to 11-3. Xavier Harris responded with a layup, but Williams continued his second half paint dominance with two layups of his own. In the sixth minute, Peel hit his fourth three of the game to create a 10-point Aggie lead; 63-53. Andrew Azebeokhai Jr scored a fast break dunk to make it a two-possession game one minute later; 63-57. In the 10th minute, Morinini elevated through Cameron contact to score a layup and get three points the hard way. Right after, UCCS forced a Cameron backcourt violation.
- A Ray block on Sergej Jakovljevic kept the Aggies lead to six, and Tre Lucia drained a triple in the ninth minute to cut the Aggies lead to three (69-66); the smallest Cameron lead since the first minute of the game. Harris kept the Aggies' offense afloat, scoring his 17th and 19th points in the 14th minute. But Williams was not done yet, scoring an electrifying alley-oop from Evan McKean's lob, and then scoring his 17th point of the game to cut the Aggies lead to two; 79-77. With five minutes remaining in the second half, Morinini drove through contact to give UCCS an 80-79 lead, their first of the game. Williams dunked over an Aggie defender in the 17th minute to extend the Mountain Lion lead to two. Harris then tied the game from the free throw line, recording his 21st point of the night. Peel hit another three, giving Cameron an 88-86 lead, but Morinini answered with layup in the 19th minute. On the next Aggie possession McKean drew a clutch offensive foul on Kuhalampi, and then Morinini split his free throws; 90-88 UCCS. In the waning seconds of the game, Washington came up big with a game winning block on Harris' three-point attempt to secure a Mountain Lion win.
GAME STATISTICS
- Gunner Morinini led all players with 22 points, followed by Xavier Harris who had 21 points.
- Jonathan Mercera led all players in rebounds and assists, with nine and four respectively.
- The Aggies shot 49.3 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc. The Mountain Lions shot 47.7 percent from the field and 22.2 percent from beyond the arc.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Tonight was the Mountain Lion's first opening night win since the 2023-24 season.
- Gunner Morinini lead UCCS in scoring in his first ever collegiate basketball game.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions play Midwestern State at Gallogly Events Center on Saturday, November 13th at 3 p.m.
SOCIAL
X –
@GoMountainLions
Instagram –
@gomountainlions
Facebook – /
GoMountainLions
For everything UCCS Athletics, follow the Mountain Lions on social media and stay tuned to
gomountainlions.com.
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.
