Colorado Springs, Colo. – The Cameron Aggies Men's Basketball program got their season underway with their 32nd new head coach Kevin O'Connor with his first career Division II game against the UC Colorado Springs.
The Aggies got off to a blitzing start in the first half, taking a 33-18 lead at the eight-minute media time out with the Black and Gold shooting a jaw-dropping 62 percent from the three-point line and 65 percent from the floor.
The Aggies stood tall in the first half, taking a 45-42 lead into the locker rooms.
In the second half, turnovers doomed Cameron and allowed the Mountain Lions not only to gain the lead but watch it swell to as many as 15 after five lead changes and two ties.
Cameron saw the Mountain Lions bang in 14 triples, five more than the Aggies could muster from distance. CU gave the ball away 24 times while only creating 12 turnovers on the defensive end.
With three scorers in double-figures, all of them chipped in 19 points, led by the efficient scoring of Jaden Okon, going 8-for-10, including 1-for-2 from distance. The Wichita, Kan., native was more than just a bucket-getter as he hauled in six rebounds and had an assist.
Reggie Prudhomme scored 19 with two steals, two rebounds, and four assists. The Missouri City, Texas, native nailed a team-high four three-pointers on eight attempts.
DeSean Munson picked up right where he left off in Exhibition play scoring 19 points, hauling in eight rebounds, dishing four assists, swatting away three shots, and swiping two steals. The Junior stat sheet stuffer from Ann Arbor, Mich., will be a difference-maker all year long for Cameron.
The Aggies won the rebounding battle (+5), shot better from the floor, and only finished two points shy of tying the points in the paint category. There are a lot of positive aspects for Coach O'Connor's team to build on, a program that won just five games a year ago.
The Black-and-Gold have another shot at their first win of the season tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. MST when they head to Pueblo, Colo., to take on Colorado State-Pueblo. The Aggies are 1-3 against CSU-Pueblo, with their first-ever win against the program coming last year in a 74-66 thriller that saw Colt Savage drop in 21 points.
