The CCU Men's Basketball team took on the CSUP Thunderwolves on Saturday night and came out on top. It was the biggest comeback all year from the Cougars who won with a score of 115-113.
 
Pueblo's consistent offense gave them a comfortable lead starting the game. It was tied at 4-4 with 17 minutes left in the first when CCU was shutdown by the Thunderwolves who did not miss a shot.
 
Pueblo's Chris Golden and Josh Smith were unstoppable from the three-point line. Golden went 7-9 from the field and 4-6 from downtown totaling 23 points in the first half. Smith shot 6-9 FG, 5-7 from three, and had 19 points. CSUP shot 69% FG, 65% 3FG, and 93% FT.
 
The Cougs battled on defense, but CSUP was too good from the three and the Cougar's offense could not get anything going.  Dimitri Saliba put up 14 points for CCU going 4-4 from the field. Other than Saliba, Christian struggled to score. The team shot 50% from the field, 33% from downtown, and 72% from the line. CCU went into the locker room down 64-49.
 
Besides Pueblo's outstanding shooting, the fans and coaches could only talk about the foul count in the first half. Colo. Christian had ten fouls called on them, and Pueblo totaled 19. Four of Pueblo's players had three personals going into the second half.
 
CCU set a different and good pace for themselves in the second. You could see the frustration start to pay off in their aggressive defense and offense. It was hard to close the gap for blue and gold when the Thunderwolves continued to hit buckets, but with players like Ty McGee stepping up his shooting game going 7-12 FG, 2-2 3FG, 7-9 FT, and scoring 23 points for the Cougars, it was possible.
 
The minutes counted down and CCU had made their way back into the game. After the 15-point lead by the Thunderwolves at halftime, now there was only a one-point lead at 93-92 time 8:33.
 
There were three minutes left in the game and Zach McLemore had just made a bucket from downtown to make the score 107-105 Pueblo.
 
CSUP took the ball down the court and missed a crucial jumper. Blue and gold retaliated with another three from McLemore making it 108-107 CCU.
 
Isaiah Hanson dropped a jumper in at two minutes, and the score was 110-107.
 
The Cougars were up 112-110 with 46 seconds left on the clock. Pueblo's Chris Golden hit another three making it 113-112 Pueblo, and then McLemore got another jumper in.
 
 
With a one-point lead (114-113), the Cougars were called on a foul and Pueblo's #3 Odessa Lear took two from the line. He missed both shots.
 
The game ends with a foul on McCullough who makes one and the score is 115-113.
 
CSU-Pueblo's Chris Golden had 39 points on the night and at his heals was Josh Smith with 21 for the Thunderwolves.
 
The Cougar's stats looked a little different with seven players scoring double digits. In the lead was Ty McGee with 23, followed by Zach McLemore who showed off late in the game getting 19 points and six assists.
 
Dimitri Saliba and Jeremiah Hanson stayed steady throughout the game with 16 points. Wayne McCullough totaled 15 and Dominique Josephs and Isaiah Hanson both had ten on the night.
 
CCU out shot the Thunderwolves in the second 69%-59% FG, 53%-39% 3FG, and 83%-56% FT.
 
The Cougars fought hard in this game and never gave up. They really came together as a team when they were down. It was an impressive night from CCU, and a great game of basketball.
 
CCU will be back at the CCU Event Center on January 29^th vs Black Hills State University. Tip-off is set for 7 PM.