The CCU Cougars traveled to Denver, CO, today to play in their first conference contest of the season against the Regis University Rangers. This match-up in the past few years has been rather lopsided in the favor of the Cougars, with CCU winning seven of the past nine meetings since 2013. Tonight though, it would be the Rangers earning their first RMAC win of the year by a score of 95-91.
First half was a back-and-forth battle for the full 20 minutes, with the Cougars jumping out to a quick 6-2 lead, before the Rangers came back with a run of their own to take the lead. Ultimately the Cougars would lead after the first 20 minutes by a score of 40-37.
Free throws were definitely a noticeable stat line, as Colorado Christian wouldn't be awarded their first free throws until there was just nine minutes left in the second half. The Cougars would shoot 10-12 from the charity stripe, but the Rangers somehow earned 29 shots from the line, and made 18 of them.
The second half was not easy on the blood pressure, as there would be seven lead changes and five tied instances throughout the half. With the score staying close the whole way through, foul trouble became an issue for the Cougars late. With seven and a half minutes left in the game, starting point guard
Tyler Murrell fouled out of the game and back-up
Christian Hyatt took over. Hyatt played seven of his 12 minutes in the second half, but scored all six of his points in clutch moments down the stretch. As a team the Cougars would end up with six players with four or more fouls.
The Cougars were led by
Stefan Hackethal,
Isaiah Hanson, and
Jeremiah Hanson who scored 25, 24, and 23 points respectively. The Cougar trio also shot 15-23 from 3-point range, which works its way out to an astounding 65%. And while no Ranger had more than 22 points in the game, Regis did have five players in double digits, including 42 points from their bench.
The Cougars will be back in action on Monday, December 4
th, when they take on the Eagles of Chadron State College in Chadron, Nebraska at 7:30 p.m.
