Men's Basketball returned to the CCU Event Center on Friday night to play Western New Mexico University. The Cougars earned their seventh consecutive victory this season winning 92-78. CCU is now 14-10 overall, and 10-8 in conference.
 
Talk about a stressful and scrappy game between these two teams.  Almost all 40 minutes of play consisted of lead changes between the teams. Both did not shoot exceptional, but defensively it was a blood bath for possession of the ball. The first ten minutes of the game was dominated by purple jerseys who outplayed the Cougars for the most part. 
 
Western scored early in the game, while CCU wasn't connecting with the basket at all, missing four three pointers in a row. Momentum was down, but the Stangs struggled to protect the ball giving up eight turnovers in the first ten minutes, and 11 total in the first half which allowed Christian back into the game. WNMU had a four-minute lull in scoring which favored CCU to take the lead at 18-16.
 
It looked promising for CCU at the end of the first period with shooters like Andre Lane going 3-5 from three, but Western was desperate for their second win of the season and battled hard offensively. They outshot the Cougs 50%-41% FG, 50%-31% 3FG. Despite blue and gold's efforts, the Mustangs went into the locker room on top at 40-37.
 
The second half was consistent with the first. Purple came out strong and in the lead until CCU was able to tie the game at 54 with 12 minutes left. From there Colo. Christian held tight to the ball thanks to CCU's Ty McGee who went on a scoring rampage totaling 26 points, with 22 in the second, compared to only four in the first period. McGee had a double-double on the night with 10 rebounds.
 
Junior transfer from Metro State, Andre Lane had a hot hand the whole night scoring 20 points, going 6-8 from downtown. Dimitri Saliba scored 15 points, and Zach McClemore had 14 for the Cougs. The team shot 49% from the field, 42% three, and 86% from the line. Defensively, CCU and Western ended tied with 34 rebounds, but CCU was stronger having eight blocks and six steals.
 
With post up players like McGee and shooters like Andre Lane stepping up their game Christian was unstoppable and everyone fed off the momentum. Finally the Cougars held a comfortable ten-point lead over the Mustangs with three minutes left, and went on to finish the victory 92-78.
 
Colorado Christian Men's Basketball will be back on Saturday night playing New Mexico Highlands University. Tip-off is set for 7 PM and CCU Athletics will be honoring one and only Senior Wayne McCullough before the game.