COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's basketball team surrendered an 11-point halftime lead, shooting 23.8 percent from behind the arc as they fell 86-84 to New Mexico Highlands University.
INSIDE THE MATCH UP
- Final: UCCS 84, NMHU 86
- Records: UCCS (15-13, 10-10 RMAC) | NMHU (13-18, 11-9 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: Gallogly Events Center | Colorado Springs, Colo.
- All-Time Series: UCCS moves to 28-28 in the all-time series against the Cowboys.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Mountain Lions took a quick 8-4 lead through the first five minutes of the final regular reason game of the season, as Mario Williams Jr. contributed with four early points in the process. The Cowboys would soon take a 14-12 lead thanks to back-to-back three pointers, but five made free throws by UCCS and a three from Tre Lucia put the Mountain Lions back up 20-14 with just over 11 minutes to play in the half.
- After giving up the lead, NMHU would tie the game back up with just under eight minutes left in the first half, going on an 8-2 run. UCCS would then finish the half on a 20-9 run with three-point shots from James Ellis and Alexander Hurr. The Mountain Lions would take a 42-31 lead into halftime after shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 72.2 percent from the free throw line. Sophomore guard Gavin Carter was the team leader in points in the first half with eight.
- The second half started as a back-and-forth scoring battle, as Xavier Martinez started the scoring with a layup, with Williams Jr. staying involved with a layup and a three pointer in the first two minutes of action. The Mountain Lions held a 66-54 lead with under 12 minutes to play in the game, but NMHU began to slowly climb back.
- A 15-7 run for the Cowboys brought them within four of UCCS, and they had no plans of stopping. NMHU would eventually take an 83-80 lead after two free throws and a made layup from BJ Comer. Williams Jr. notched the next four points to retake the lead for UCCS with 22 seconds left in the game, but the Cowboys would convert a three-point play after a foul on a made layup to take a two-point lead with six seconds left. The Mountain Lions would be unable to attempt a shot in the final seconds of the game, as they fell to NMHU 86-84.
GAME STATISTICS
- Shawn Williams, Carter, and Williams Jr. were the three Mountain Lions to finish in double figures on Saturday as Williams Jr. led the team with 20 points.
- The Mountain Lions finished with 32 rebounds to the Cowboys' 37 with Williams leading the team with 10.
- The Mountain Lions shot 44.3 percent from the field (27-of-61), 23.8 percent from the three-point line (5-of-21) and 73.5 percent from the free throw line (25-of-34).
- UCCS had 18 points off turnovers, 40 in the paint, 21 from second chances, 10 off fast breaks, and 36 from the bench.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Williams notched his third double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
- Carter's 16 points were the most he has scored in a game this season.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will play in the RMAC Tournament Quarterfinals on Tuesday, March 3rd as they take on Black Hills State University in Spearfish, S.D. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. (MT).
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.
