Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Press ReleaseOGDEN, UTAH - Weber State hit 19 three-pointers, 13 of them without a miss in the first half, defeating the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, 110-58 Monday night in the first exhibition game of the season for the Wildcats.
The trey barrage began at the 17:08 mark of the first half with the 'Cats leading 6-5. Nick Hansen's trey made it 12-5, followed by three-pointers from Damian Lillard, Hansen and Lillard again making it a 21-7 game. WSU newcomer Franklin Session then had a break away slam at 14:25 and added a three-pointer 21 seconds later to give WSU a 26-7 lead. Lillard followed with the third of his game high six treys at 12:48 giving WSU a 29-9 advantage.
The Wildcats were 13-13 from the three-point line until freshman forward Byron Fulton missed with 1:52 remaining in the first half and the 'Cats led 58-31 at the break behind 20 points from Lillard. WSU ended the first half 13-16 from the arc (.813) and made 6-10 in the second half to end the game 19-26 (.731). Those 19 would have been a WSU school record by four had it been a regular season game counter.
"Obviously if you make 13 straight three-pointers, you are probably going to have a pretty good lead in the game if you are playing some good defense, which we did in the first half." said WSU head coach Randy Rahe.
The second half was pretty much like the first, except the Wildcats went inside more and were 14-20 from the free throw line, out scoring the Mountain Lions 52-27.
Lillard, a sophomore from Oakland, California and last year's Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year, had a near perfect night hitting 8-8 from the field including 6-6 from the arc, and was 5-6 from the free throw line scoring 27 points and dishing out seven assists as well.
Nick Hansen, a senior guard from Pocatello, Idaho was 6-9 from the field - all of them from beyond the arc - and was 2-2 from the line for 20 points.
Coach Rahe had nice games from two junior college transfers. Franklin Session (6-3, 175 Jr.) started at the small forward spot and was 7-8 from the field scoring 17 points and grabbing five rebounds. Lindsey Hughey (6-3, 200 Jr.) came off the bench and also scored 17 hitting 5-6 from the floor and 5-6 from the field. Kyle Bullinger, a sophomore from Mountain View, Wyoming added 12 points. Senior center Steve Panos from Salt Lake City, Utah led the 'Cats with 11 rebounds and scored six points.
Weber State hit a sizzling 62 percent from the field while holding the Mountain Lions, coached by Russ Caton, to just 21-56 (.375) from the floor, forcing 19 turnovers.
Weber State plays another exhibition game this coming Saturday, November 7 at 7:05 p.m. (MST) in the Dee Events Center against Colorado Christian University. The Wildcats open up regular season play on Friday, November 13 hosting defending WAC champion, Utah State University, at 7:35 p.m. (MST).
(Courtesy WSU Athletic Department)
