CCU Basketball got another big road win Saturday, advancing to 5-3 on the year and 2-0 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play. The Cougars downed Western New Mexico 61-57 thanks to another strong defensive showing and timely makes from the charity stripe.
 
Colorado Christian took the early lead in the contest, going up by as many as five before a WNMU trey put the home team up 11-9. The Cougars responded right away and didn't let up, leaving Western on the losing end the rest of the way. CCU's defensive pressure (three blocks, three steals, 17 defensive boards) assured a 29-20 halftime score.
 
Unrelenting in the second period, Western New Mexico turned things up after the break. Bucket by bucket the Mustangs chipped away at the Christian lead until only one score separated the teams in the final minutes. Fortunately, even when WNMU drained dramatic treys, the Cougars answered back with makes of their own – usually from the free throw line.
 
"This was another excellent defensive performance," Coach Kevin Lubbers said after the win, "and we made enough timely offensive plays and free throws to win. Our players and assistant coaches did a great job this weekend being prepared and ready to go."
 
Three Cougar players – Andrew Squiers, Michael Brown, and Wayne McCullough – turned in double-digit scoring performances. Tyler Shields anchored the Christian defense, notching one block and seven defensive rebounds in addition to three steals – one of them a crucial grab in the closing moments to help CCU seal the win. Brown's 14-point effort proved a memorable one, as the senior from Heber City, UT eclipsed the 1,000 point scoring mark with his very first score against the Mustangs.
 
A return to Lakewood is on the schedule for the Cougars this week – they'll host Black Hills State and Chadron State on Friday and Saturday before wrapping 2014 with a Dec. 18 home game against Colorado Mines. Fans in attendance at the Mines game will have a chance to win Nuggets tickets.