Denver – The Metropolitan State University of Denver men's basketball team defeated UCCS on Tuesday night 82-77 in the first round of the RMAC Tournament. The Roadrunners advance to 19-10, 17-6 RMAC while the Mountains Lions fall to 17-13, 14-9 RMAC.

The Roadrunners were led in scoring by senior Tony Dobbinson (Stamford, Conn./Westhill H.S.) with 23 points.  Junior Andre Harris (DeKalb, Ill./DeKalb H.S.) added 18 points.  Sophomore Bounama Keita (Saint-Louis, Senegal/Impact Basketball Academy (Fla.)) led all players in rebounds with 12.

The first five minutes of the game was a back-and-forth battle with neither team able to build more than a three point lead.  MSU Denver was able to build a small lead following an 8-0 run sparked by senior Eric Rayer (Colorado Springs/Coronado H.S.)'s layup.  The Roadrunners led 18-9 with 13:47 to play in the half.  UCCS would respond with a 7-0 run of its own and trim the MSU Denver lead to two at the 7:58 mark, 20-18.  Dobbinson and Harris combined to score six consecutive points for MSU Denver and the Roadrunners built an eight point lead with 2:45 to play in the period.  Senior DeShawn Phenix (Fort Worth, Texas/North Crowley H.S.) knocked down a three-pointer with 1:45 to play in the half to give the Roadrunners a nine point lead, their largest of the half.  MSU Denver took a 39-34 lead into halftime.

In the second half, MSU Denver scored six quick points and grew its lead to 11.  UCCS would again respond and chip away at the Roadrunners lead.  MSU Denver led 50-44 with 14:10 to play in the game.  The Roadrunners built their largest lead of the game over the next four minutes going up by 12 points following a Dobbinson layup with 10:40 to play.  UCCS would find its offense from the free throw line over the next four minutes scoring eight points from the foul line.  The Roadrunners led by only two, 67-65, at the 6:05 mark.  The Roadrunners would allow only UCCS three field goals over the final six minutes of play and would convert on 13 free throw attempts to seal the victory 82-77.

MSU Denver advances to the semifinals of the RMAC Tournament with the victory.  MSU Denver will face top-seeded Fort Lewis in Durango, Colo. on Friday, March 4.  Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.