Colorado College takes conference-opener from @UDallasMBB, 78-66

IRVING, Texas - The University of Dallas men's basketball team (5-5, 0-1 SCAC) opened conference-play with a 78-66 loss to Colorado College (7-2, 1-0 SCAC) on Saturday afternoon at the Maher Athletic Center.

The Crusaders began the game on a 13-0 run, but watched their lead dissipate into a 33-33 tie entering halftime. Colorado College's Ryan Milne amassed 16 of his game-high 26 points in the first-half. 

There were six second-half lead changes in the ebb-and-flow contest. Head coach Jarred Samples' squad fell behind for good, with 11:44 remaining, when Milne netted one of his five 3-pointers.

From this point, onward, the Tigers ended with a 32-20 points advantage to capture a 12-point victory. 

Dallas finished 24-of-52 (46.2 percent) from the field, while Colorado College countered with 30-of-59 (50.8 percent) shooting.

Aaron Wyatt (Frisco, Texas) tallied a team-high 17 points for the Crusaders. The junior foward also recorded six rebounds (four offensive) and an assist in 36 minutes on the court. 

Senior forward/center Ross Davidson (Dana Point, Calif.) and senior guard Nate Wilson (Fairbanks, Alaska) each contributed 12 points to round-out double-figure scorers for Dallas.

Daniel Webb and Chris Lesnansky managed 15 and 12 points, respectively, for the Tigers.

The navy and white outrebounded their counterpart (32-27), but surrendered 19 turnovers. Colorado College held notable positive margins in points-off-turnovers (25-8), points-in-the-paint (36-24) and fast-break points (14-3). 

Next opponent: 

Dallas looks to end their three-game skid, as they host Rust College (Miss.) in a 7 p.m. tip-off on Monday.