The CCU Event Center was packed with fans on Tuesday night as the CCU Men's Basketball team battled hard against the Colorado School of Mines. They fell to the Orediggers by one point 76-75 in a tense and nerve-racking, but well-played game.
 
To say the Cougar squad was ON, was an understatement. CCU's offense and defense was on another level against the Orediggers. After an unfortunate loss to the #11 New Mexico Highlands on Saturday night, Christian was out for blood against #2 Mines.
 
The incredible perimeter shooting Orediggers have fought their way to the top of the conference with star player #31 Natesan Gokul leading them in points. Mines' defense is the best in the RMAC, but Colorado Christian did their homework and was able to force errors and turnovers by CSM, while also running an efficient Cougar offense.
 
The game started off with CCU's Dimitri Saliba scoring the first seven points in only a minute and a half of play. He went on to score the first nine points for blue and gold until Jonathan Stevens put 11 on the board. Both squads were frustrated with different areas of the game. Colorado Mines kept turning the ball over off offensive fouls (five total), and Colorado Christian could not make a free throw in the first half (5-11, 45.5%).
 
The Orediggers were also educated in Colo. Christian's game and put up a strong perimeter defense that prevented the Cougar's own Brett Brady from scoring until two minutes left when he made his first three. Brady has been the Cougar's ace from the outside, knocking down threes left and right. Even without the CCU senior scoring many points in the first half, blue and gold still came out on top 35-34 going into the locker room.
 
The second half continued to look good for the Cougs as they played aggressive defense, but as the clock ran down so did the Cougars momentum. Orediggers were getting good looks from downtown again and hitting open shots. They slowly started to make their way back into the game.  CCU went into a scoring lull and could not find the hoop. This enabled Mines to tie the game up a few times and then eventually take the lead with five minutes left at 66-69.
 
With a minute left, the score was 75-72 CSM. The Orediggers had the ball but were rejected by a painful shot clock violation. CCU had possession, gave it to Brady for the three but missed it with 13 seconds left. CCU did the evident foul on Mines where #10 Kaan Korkmaz made his first and missed his second. The Cougs gave it back to Brady again and he made the shot from three! The Cougs were now down by one point 76-75 with 1.8 second left to score and possession of the ball after a missed free throw by #31 Natesan Gokul. They gave it to Brady a third time, where from half court he attempted to score. The shot was off. Mines won the game by one point.
 
The Cougars played outstanding basketball against the Orediggers, and looked better than ever on defense. Brett Brady walked away with a team high of 21 points. Dimitri Saliba had 20 points with four assists. Ty McGee scored 15 and had nine rebounds, and Jacob Taylor went 4-4 with a few baseline shots to get 11 points. The Cougs outshot Colorado Mines in every area, but lagged behind in rebounds and attempts.
 
CCU Men's Basketball will play Fort Lewis College on Saturday, January 28^th at the CCU Event Center. Tip-off is set for 3:00 PM.