DENVER – It could not have been more nauseating.

Despite holding a lead and then rallying after losing it, the Colorado Christian men's basketball team fell in heartbreaking fashion 81-76 in overtime on Saturday evening to MSU Denver.

HOW IT HAPPENED: During the opening 20 minutes neither team built a substantial lead in a sloppy first frame. Each team committed 11 turnovers as the lead changed hands five times and there were four ties. A late scoring spurt by the Cougars gave them a 29-24 lead with just over a minute left until intermission before taking a 29-28 edge into the locker room.

Colorado Christian continued to hold their lead as they built a 44-39 edge by hitting five of their first eight field goal attempts to open the second stanza. At the 10-minute mark, a Luke Martin three-pointer gave the Cougars their biggest advantage (51-45).

MSU Denver took their first lead in the second half (54-53) using a 9-2 scoring spurt after the Martin shot from distance. The home team continued their spurt as they upped their lead to 59-53 with just over six minutes left in the contest.  The Cougars pulled as closed as 62-60 and then had a three-pointer by Christian Hyatt, with just over three minutes left, rattled out. However, the Cougars still had opportunities.

After a Roadrunners turnover, Spencer Hoffman just missed a lay-in when he was fouled with just over a minute left. The sophomore converted both foul shots to knot the game at 64-64. On the home team's ensuing possession, they missed a three-pointer then Hyatt gave the Cougars a lead with a pair of foul shots. MSU Denver responded with a Mitch Lombard lay-in with 29.7 seconds left to tie the score for the eighth time.

The final play of regulation saw Jake Hornick miss a long three-pointer with three seconds left which was rebounded by Justin Engesser but his put-back attempt rolled off the rim at the buzzer. The game headed to overtime tied at 66.

The team's traded points during initial possessions in the extra session before MSU Denver nudged ahead 77-74 and eventually took a 79-74 lead with a minute left. Aiden Cantwell made two foul shots with 42 ticks left but those would be the final points for the Cougars.  

COUGAR LEADERS: Five players scored in double figures as Cantell and Engesser each had a team high 15 points. Hornick added 13 points while Elijah Oliver (12) and Hoffman (10) rounded out the high scorers. Engesser taliied his second double-double of the season with a 10-rebound effort.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• MSU Denver's bench scored seven points in the extra period
• The Roadrunners owned the paint with a 48-12 scoring edge down low
• Saturday was Colorado Christian's first overtime game since a 93-92 win at Western last season

UP NEXT: The Cougars return home for the first time since the season's opening weekend as they host Colorado School of Mines on Friday at 7 p.m.