COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. --- The Western Colorado men's basketball team used a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to tie the game and send it to overtime, but couldn't get the upper hand on UCCS in the extra period and fell to the Mountain Lions 99-97 on Thursday at the Gallogly Events Center.

The Mountaineers (4-7 overall, 4-6 RMAC) trailed UCCS (5-5, 5-5) 80-75 with 34 seconds left in regulation before Matthew Ragsdale hit two free throws with 25 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to three. The Mountain Lions turned it over on a five-second call trying to throw the ball in. Ragsdale then scored on a layup with 14 seconds left to cut the UCCS lead to 90-89.

UCCS hit a pair of free throws with 13 seconds left to push the lead to three points when the Mountaineers took a timeout with nine seconds left. Cole Sienknecht then got the ball on the wing, pump faked to get space and drained a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.

But Western never could take the lead in overtime - trailing the final 3:59 before falling by two points.

Sienknecht led the Mountaineers with a season-high 26 points while Ragsdale finished with 23 points and seven rebounds. Avery Rembao had 13 points while Jonathan McCloud had 11 points.

The Mountaineers battled foul trouble throughout as five players fouled out for the Mountaineers - including four starters. This helped UCCS go 35-for-47 from the free throw line compared to the Mountaineers going 21-for-25.

Alijah Comithier had a game-high 32 points for UCCS to go along with seven rebounds.

The Mountaineers' game scheduled for Monday against Black Hills State has been postponed due to COVID-19 protocols. Western next plays Friday at home against Regis.