The men’s basketball team put on an outstanding performance on Feb. 15, securing a decisive 74-47 win over Colorado Christian University. The Mountain Lions never trailed after a strong start, showcasing efficient shooting and a stifling defense that kept the Cougars at bay.
UCCS wasted no time establishing momentum as senior guard Hannes Saar opened the scoring with a layup, followed by a 3-pointer from sophomore guard Xavier Martinez. The early 5-point lead set the tone for the Mountain Lions.
The Cougars managed to keep the contest competitive in the opening minutes, staying within 2 points, but ultimately could not keep up when sophomore guard James Ellis and junior forward Jayden Washington combined for 3 consecutive shots from beyond the arc, extending the Mountain Lions’ lead to 11 points, making the score 19-8 with 12 minutes left in the first half.
The scoring surge continued as UCCS maintained control throughout the first half. A driving layup by freshman guard Gavin Carter pushed their lead to its largest point of the half at 19. By halftime, the Mountain Lions had built a 38-22 lead, fueled by a 51.9% shooting performance from the field and a 46.2% from 3-point range.
UCCS picked up right where they left off in the second half, outscoring the Cougars, 36-25. Unlike the first half, where perimeter shooting played a major role, the Mountain Lions relied on their paint presence, scoring 38 points from close range. Redshirt junior guard Jezza McKenzie accounted for the team’s only two 3-pointers in the second half, but the lack of outside shooting did not hinder their offensive efficiency.
The Mountain Lions’ defense proved to be just as dominant as their offense. They held the Cougars to a mere 25 points in the second half, limiting them to 32% shooting from the field. UCCS also capitalized on their aggressive defensive rebounding, preventing second-chance opportunities for the Cougars and extending their lead to as much as 29 points.
The final score of 74-47 marked the first time this season that UCCS had held an opponent to under 50 points.
Carter was instrumental in keeping UCCS’ offensive tempo high. As the highest scoring Mountain Lion in the game, he contributed 17 points, 11 points in the second half alone. Three more athletes scored in the double-digits for UCCS: Martinez (14), Saar (11) and McKenzie (10).
The Mountain Lions will try to extend their win streak to three games on the road when they take on Adams State University on Feb. 20.
Guard #22 Jezza McKenzie dribbles into the paint for a layup. Photo by Taylor Villalpando.