GUNNISON, Colo. – Simon Fraser had 30 fewer trips to the free throw line, surrendered a 10-point halftime lead and lost 72-61 to Western Colorado Mountaineers Friday afternoon in the Colorado Mesa Thanksgiving Classic at Paul Wright Gym.
 
SFU was outscored 19 to 1 at the free throw line in the second half of a game they controlled. Colorado went to the free throw line 35 times (making 25) while the Red Leafs had just five free throws in the entire game.
 
SFU was comfortably out in front 33-23 at the break and led by eight points, 52-44, with 8:06 to play. That's when Western Colorado took over the game, going on a 23-4 run over the next six-and-a-half minutes to take an 11-point lead with 90 seconds remaining. SFU was scoreless from 4:24 when they led 56-55 to 1:38 when they trailed 67-56. Only a three by freshman Immanuel Oludele ended the run but it was too late.

The Red Leafs made 1-of-2 second half free throws compared to Western Colorado, who made 26 trips to the charity stripe in the second period, earning 19 points.
 
Western Colorado shot 48.1 percent from the field in the second half going 13-of-27 and 4-of-9 on threes to take over the game. SFU shot 39.1 percent from the field going 25-of-64. SFU was out-rebounded 44 to 33 and WCU had 13 more possessions.
 
Elliot Dimaculangan scored 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting and Nigel Hylton added 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting to lead the Red Leafs.
 
SFU, now 3-2 overall, plays host Colorado Mesa on Saturday at 2 p.m. Pacific time. The team begins conference play at home on Saturday, Dec. 3 with a men's and women's basketball double header against Western Washington. The women's game starts at 5:15 pm and the men's game is at 7:30 pm.
 
#RepTheLeaf