DENVER, Colo. – The Regis University basketball team (20-9, 16-6 RMAC) narrowly edged the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs 80-78 to advance to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Tournament semifinals. The Rangers have now won 20-plus games in three straight seasons.

How It Happened: Just a minute and a half into the game, the Mountain Lions, who defeated RU in the regular season, held a 2-7 advantage but Regis answered with a 6-0 run to earn their first lead of the contest. After a UCCS basket halted the Rangers run, the RU offense ignited for a 13-0 spurt.

Junior Christian Little made a layup to give Regis their largest lead of the game, 28-14, with 9:45 remaining in the first half. The Mountain Lions never pulled themselves within six until the final minute of the half. UCCS outscored the Rangers 8-2 in the final minute, sending the game to halftime with a 40-37 score line in favor of RU.

Freshman Toni Rocak made a layup to give Regis a five-point cushion with 17:04 left in the game, but the Mountain Lions scored four straight to cut their deficit to one, 44-43. The game featured eight lead changes and a tie over the next six minutes.

The Rangers were finally able to create a seven-point cushion, 77-70, thanks to five-straight points by senior Jarrett Brodbeck. The seven-point RU lead looked as if they had put the game away with two minutes left on the clock, but UCCS had more fight to give.

The Mountain Lions made back-to-back three-pointers to bring themselves within one, 77-76, with 56 seconds left. UCCS had the ball, down by one, with 36 seconds left, but sophomore Brian Dawson came away with the steal. He made went on to give Regis a two-point lead via a free-throw. Once again, the Mountain Lions had the chance to tie or win the game on the last possession, but Dawson's quick hands lead to another steal as the buzzer sounded.

Game Notes: Brodbeck (7-15 FG, 5-12 3PT) and Little (8-14 FG, 0-1 3PT) both scored in the twenties. Brodbeck dropped a game-high 22 while little added 20. The
Rangers shot 50 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from the three-point line.

RU was outrebounded 31-24. Senior Ryan Beisty tallied a game-high six rebounds with five coming on the defensive end.

Regis scored 20 points on 20 UCCS turnovers while the Mountain Lions scored just 12 on 11 Ranger turnovers.

Up Next for the Rangers: The Regis University men's basketball team will play in the semifinals of the RMAC Tournament on Friday, March 8. Time, Place and opponent are to be determined.