COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Midwestern State rallied, but just couldn't overtake UC Colorado Springs falling to the Mountain Lions 72-68 Saturday night at Gallogly Events Center.

The Mustangs (0-2) look to rebound in their home opener against Northwestern Oklahoma State Thursday at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

UC Colorado Springs used an extended 19-1 run to turn an nine-point deficit into a nine-point lead after the Mustangs assumed their largest lead of the game after Marquis Davison put back his own missed free throw to give MSU a 38-29 advantage with two minutes remaining in the first half.

Jezza McKenzie buried a 3-pointer before the end of the half, then Jon'il Fugett drilled consecutive triples to start the second half as the Mountain Lions surged to a 48-39 lead on a put back by junior forward William Becker just 4 1/2 minutes into the second half.

UC Colorado Springs shot 56 percent from the field in the second half and buried six 3-pointers to surge to a 10-point advantage when Kyle Cabs' transition layup gave the Mountain Lions a 57-47 lead with 10:40 to play.

But the Mustangs would chip away behind the efforts of Jordan Teal (10 points in the second half), Pierre Sanders (8 points in second half), and Derrick Ogechi (10 points in second half) who combined for 26 of the Mustangs' 30 points in the second half.

The trio spurred a 9-1 run as Sanders followed an Ogechi jumper with a traditional three-point play followed by a pair of jumpers in the paint to set up a put back by Ogechi to pull the Mustangs to within a single point at 65-64 with 2:11 to play.

But freshman Logan Bracamonte answered with a 3-pointer and the teams exchanged a pair of free throws to extend the Mountain Lion lead to 70-66 with 26 seconds left.

Sanders hit another driving layup to cut the advantage to two, but Bracamonte drew a player control foul with six seconds to play after the Mustangs forced UCCS into a turnover in the backcourt.

Bracamonte then connected on two free throws to give UC Colorado Springs a two possession advantage with five seconds to play.

Sanders finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, and four steals to lead the Mustangs, while senior Jermane Carter finished a solid all-around night with 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and six steals.

Teal connected on 5-of-7 shots from the field to finish with 12 points, while Ogechi added 10 and Davison pitched in 10 points and five rebounds.

Fugett paced the Mountain Lions with 15 points, while Bracamonte buried four 3-pointers to finish with 14.

UC Colorado Springs improved to 2-0.
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