Overtime against UCCS again spells doom for ThunderWolves

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Someplace, somewhere, there must have been a universal decree handed down that men's basketball games between CSU-Pueblo and UC-Colorado Springs are required to go to overtime. Saturday, for the third time in as many meetings between the two schools, an extra frame was required to find the victor.

And just as it had been in the previous two overtime tussles, it was UCCS coming out on top in quite decisive fashion, winning 72-65.

In the past three overtime wins over the Pack, the Mountain Lions had an average margin of victory of eight, winning by seven and 11, respectively, in two overtime games last season.

Tied at 58 going into the extra period, the Mountain Lions went on their strongest run of the night, beginning the overtime period with a 10-5 run, going up by five halfway with two minutes remaining in the overtime and effectively dooming the Pack's chances.

The ThunderWolves' final chance came with 90 seconds remaining, as they were trailing by three with the opportunity to take the last possession down to the wire. But a missed three by Rome Smith with 18 seconds remaining that fell into the hands of UCCS' Eric Davis was the final nail for another game that away from the Pack in the final minutes.

The Pack's up and down second half was due largely to the increased sloppiness by both teams. After a first half in which both teams shot .500 or better, the Pack shot only 35 percent in the second half, while UCCS was a dismal 24 percent from the field. The difference was the overtime period, when the Pack went just 2-for-11 while the Mountain Lions shot 60 percent.

The loss drops the Pack to 2-6, and gives them their third loss in a row. The ThunderWolves have an 0-2 record in conference play this season.