Kearney, Neb. - Colorado-Colorado Springs got a game-high 22 points from senior post Cole Smith, and jumped out to a 9-1 lead, to hold off Nebraska-Kearney, 68-63, Saturday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center.

UCCS (7-12, 5-6 RMAC) earns its first-ever win in Kearney while the Lopers (9-10, 4-7 RMAC) have now lost three in a row and five of its last six.

Today, UNK struggled mightily on the offensive end, shooting 37.5 percent from the field, 3-point line and free throw line. The FG pct. ties a season-low while the FT pct. figure is a season-low effort.

Moment of the Game
The Mountain Lions, with former Loper James Lane as its assistant coach, led for nearly the entire game but not by more than 10 points.

A reverse layup from Wayne sophomore Jesse Hill got the Lopers within two, 53-51, at the 3:30 mark of the 2nd half. After trailing by nine right out the gates, UNK did grab a brief one point lead in the 1st half and kept getting close to UCCS in the 2nd half, only to have Springs respond each time. 

After Hill's bucket, Chris Fernandez drained a three from the corner to put the Lions up five. UNK wouldn't get closer then three points the rest of the way as UCCS finally started making its free throws.

Shooting around 40 percent from the charity strip most of the game, Springs made 6 of its last 8 freebies to be at 19 of 36 (52.8 pct.) on the day.

UCCS out rebounded UNK by eight, 45-37, and that led to a 13-3 advantage in 2nd chance points.

Lopers of the Game
Josiah Parker (Sr., C, Lincoln) - team-high 16 points on 7 of 15 FG shooting, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 assists
Max Froehlich (So., G, Pierce) - 14 points on 6 of 14 FG shooting, 6 rebounds, 4 assists
Jesse Hill (So., G, Wayne) - 7 points, 5 rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench

Opponent Notes
Smith reached 22 points by making 8 of 11 FG's & going 6 of 14 at the line; team-high 9 rebounds
Guard Jordan McClung scored 14 points on 7 of 9 FT shooting; 4 rebounds, 2 assists

Up Next
UNK hosts nationally-ranked Metro State Thursday night