UC COLORADO SPRINGS at WESTERN COLORADO
7:30 p.m., Thu., Jan. 29 | Paul Wright Gym | Gunnison, Colo.
Watch (PPV) | Live Stats | Digital Program | Tickets
COLORADO CHRISTIAN at WESTERN COLORADO
3 p.m., Sat., Jan. 31 | Paul Wright Gym | Gunnison, Colo.
Watch (PPV) | Live Stats | Digital Program | Tickets

GUNNISON, Colo.  Western Colorado men's basketball will join in the nationwide observance of Coaches vs. Cancer/Suits and Sneakers Week with Thursday's and Saturday's games at Paul Wright Gym.

COACHES VS. CANCER WEEK

• Media information about the week states that this is "a collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).
• "For over 30 years, this initiative has engaged coaches nationwide to leverage their leaderships and influence to support the American Cancer Society's vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone."
• A priority of the week is to promote regular cancer screening, and with the help of coaches players and fans, "they help fuel research and support for patients and families across the country."
• Western's players will each be displaying "I Play For…." posters in their pre-game introductions.
• More information can be found at the link: coachesvscancer.org

THE HISTORY

• UCCS has a 32-19 all-time record against Western, and has won the past three matchups, including a non-conference game in early January.
• The Cougars of CCU fell to Western in the RMAC-opening game for both teams this season, allowing Western to creep within one game of tying the all-time series, led by CCU at 16-15.

WESTERN COLORADO HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND | 2025-26 Stats

• The Mountaineers have a 6-12 overall record and a 4-6 RMAC mark leading into the weekend. They are coming off an exciting win over visiting South Dakota Mines, and an upset bid that fell short two days later against 21st-ranked Black Hills State.
• Western's Aidan McDowell is virtually tied for the top spot in NCAA Division II in scoring, carrying a 27.3 PPG average into the week. His 60 3-pointers are 12th most in DII, and in the win over South Dakota Mines, he registered his first career double-double, scoring 36 points and coming away with a career-high 13 rebounds.
• Both Tyler Halligan (12.9 PPG) and Jordan Kuac (10.2) are scoring in double figures for Western, the trio accounting for 50 of the Mountaineers' 74 points per game.
• Quincy Scott has been on a scoring surge as of late, averaging nearly 15 PPG in his last three outings.
• Mason Mottashed is the spark plug for the offense, as he's dished on 70 assists, fifth most in the RMAC and scored a career-high 19 points in the game against the 21st-ranked Yellow Jackets.

UCCS COMING INTO THE GAME | 2025-26 Stats

• The Mountain Lions, 10-8 overall and 5-5 in the RMAC, are a high scoring team, averaging 89 points per game. They also surrender 85 PPG, though. UCCS had been 5-3 in league play but dropped consecutive RMAC game on the road to come into Thursday's game at Western with that 5-5 conference mark.
• Part of the Mountain Lions' scoring efforts are fueled from behind the arc, as they dropped in 163 3-pointers, led by Mario Williams Jr.'s 31 treys and Xavier Martinez' 24.
• Martinez leads the team in scoring at 12.9 PPG, but four other Mountain Lions average 11 PPG for a balanced UCCS attack.
• Marzouq Abdur-Razaaq is among the top 15 rebounders in the conference, leading UCCS with a 6.2 RPG average.
• While Mottashed sets up Western's offense, Martinez is the court general for the Mountain Lions, accumulating 83 assists, third most in the RMAC.

COLORADO CHRISTIAN HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND | 2025-26 Stats

• The Cougars are 7-11 overall and 2-8 in the RMAC, and they travel to Westminster University in Salt Lake City for an RMAC game before continuing to Paul Wright Gym on Saturday.
• CCU's 69 PPG average ranks 14th of 15 teams in the RMAC, and the Cougars enter the week with a minus-5 scoring margin.
• Pierce Brazil generates much of the offense for the Cougars, coming into the week averaing 16.4 PPG, a figure buoyed by a team-leading 27 3-pointers.
• Joshua Reid is just shy of scoring in double digits (9.8 PPG), but he leads the team off the glass with a 6.0 RPG average.
• The Cougars have a balanced attack in their offensive end, set up by multiple players. Pierce Bazil leads with 41 assists, but Porter Bazil has 36 dishes and Ezra Guest adds 32 assists for the CCU attack.

UP NEXT
The Mountaineers will be on the road next week, taking on host Colorado School of Mines on Feb. 5 followed two days later by an afternoon date at MSU Denver.