Box Score GOLDEN, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team uses hot shooting to defeat the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers 79-66.

INSIDE THE MATCH-UP
Final: UCCS 79, CSM 66
Records: UCCS (14-11, 9-8 RMAC), CSM (14-14, 10-7 RMAC)
Facility: Lockridge Arena | Golden, Colo.
All-Time Series: UCCS holds a 14-41 record vs CSM all-time.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 

•  Scoring was at a premium in the first ten minutes of action, as both teams stayed under the 40% line from the floor in the early going. Timely opportunities gave the Mountain Lions the early lead at the midway point of the first half, With Jezza Mckenzie and Xavier Martinez hitting the only three pointers in the contest through the first 10:16 of play.
• Stingy defense was what got the Orediggers back within a possession as back-to-back opportunities from McKenzie and Shawn Williams both were blocked, allowing the Orediggers to cut the lead to two at 19-17. Alexander Hurr would answer for UCCS with a timely three on the other end, with UCCS earning the stop to lead Jezza McKenzie to hit his second triple of the game and force Pryor Orser into taking his first timeout, now facing a ten-point deficit, 33-23.
• UCCS would continue the momentum into the half, extending the lead to 15 at 39-24 at the break, finishing on a 17-3 run into the half. Mines was ice cold from the floor in the final minutes, hitting one of their last eleven shots into the break.
• The offensive woes continued for the home squad in the second half of play, as the Orediggers under 30% as a team from the floor midway through the second frame. UCCS, however, moved the opposite direction, shooting 50% from beyond the arch, and hitting 45% from the floor out of the break.
• Over the next five minutes from the midway point of the second, to the final media timeout with 3:55 to play, both teams matched each other with 20 points a side. Mines' shooting began to warm up, but UCCS was able to respond and keep the hosts at arms-length up 11, 72-61.
• The Mountain Lions would put it on cruise control the rest of the way, taking the 79-66 win in Golden to spoil Rock the Lock night.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME
 

• Brody Hull led the Mountain Lions with 18 points, going 7-12 from the floor and 2-4 from deep.
• Xavier Martinez led the Mountain Lions in minutes with 35, also leading the squad with eight assists.
• UCCS forced Mines into 15 turnovers on the evening, converting that into 17 points on the other end.

 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
 

• The win marks the Mountain Lions' first in Golden since 2019.
• UCCS' win moves their magic number for RMAC tournament qualification to one, securing with a win or a CCU loss.

 
Next Up
The Mountain Lions finish the final regular season road trip on Saturday when they take on Regis University at 3 p.m. in Denver.
 
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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.