LAKEWOOD, CO – Mixing and matching throughout the game, the Cougars battled against one the RMAC preseason top five teams. And got the result they have been processing towards as they started their 11-game home schedule.
Getting his first collegiate win as a head coach Liam Simmons got double-doubles from Ross Williams and Andy Stafford as they notched an 84-79 win against Fort Lewis.
HOW IT HAPPENED: The Cougars had close to a perfect start as they ran out to a 16-5 edge just after the first media timeout. After the first six minutes the home team hit four three-pointers out of their six made field goals. The visitors responded over the next four minutes. When Akuel Kot completed a three-point with 10:51 left, the Skyhawks took a 19-18 lead.
Fort Lewis built their lead to 33-25 with just under five minutes left until intermission. Both teams traded a handful of points the remainder of the stanza as the Skyhawks went into the locker room with a 39-32. Colorado Christian held the Skyhawks starting five to just 10 first half points but the reserves picked up the slack to aid in the visitors lead.
Colorado Christian methodically chipped away at their workable deficit in the early moments of the second half. With just over 14 minutes left, Christian St. Germain nailed the Cougars 12th three-pointer of the night to give his team a 50-49 edge.
The next moments saw the Skyhawks retake the lead and go ahead 64-57 but the determined Cougars battled back and tied the contest at 68-68 when Aiden Cantwell nailed a corner three-pointer with just under five minutes left. Ross Williams gave his team a 70-68 lead on the next possession with a pair of free throws.
Will Wittman's three-point play with just over two minutes left gave Fort Lewis a 77-74 lead but a Williams lay-in then a pair of Stafford foul shots gave the home team a 78-77 edge with 1:20 remaining. A Wittman shot from the charity stripe tied the game but the Cougars retook the lead (80-78) on a driving Stafford lay-up.
The Cougars forced a Fort Lewis turnover on the ensuing possession then Williams hit two more free throws to push the lead to four points with 16 seconds left. Fort Lewis never had a chance to tie or take the lead in their final possessions.
COUGAR LEADERS: Williams posted a stat line worthy of conference Player of the Week honors as he scored 28 points with 17 rebounds and five assists. The junior transfer from Menlo College (CA) played all 40 minutes as he posted collegiate bests for points and rebounds. Stafford notched an 18-point, 10-rebound performance for his first double-double of the campaign.
Justin Engesser went for 15 points while Aidan Cantwell notched a 14-point effort on the strength of a team high four made three-pointers. Not to be out done, St. Germain had nine points in his first collegiate start.
QUOTEABLE: "They are fun group of guys to be around. It is fun for CCU to get a win on the board. Winning is just hard and it is a culmination of learning so you get to that place where you have a chance. Our mission this week was to execute and we got into a game where Fort Lewis got out there a little bit then we pulled then back in. Then when it came down the stretch we had a chance to execute and it just happened to go our way tonight. Fort Lewis is very well coached and they play well together."
Getting First Collegiate Win: "It is awesome to get that first collegiate win. More so for the guys because I am just one part of the team and I have to do my job. That's just one element. The guys showed up and did their job. When they did their job, it looks like I am doing mine well. More importantly we are teaching process here and sometimes it is hard to buy-in without results. Now tonight to get a result after not getting one yet is more pleasing. Specially to see us execute and play through foul trouble."
On Ross Williams: "His passion is infectious. Part of our recruiting philosophy is to recruit guys who know how to win and he comes from a winning program. He is a very talented player and it my job to teach him to be consistent and get out of the way. He was phenomenal tonight."
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- There were 10 ties and 10 lead changes
- Colorado Christian went 15-for-25 from behind the arc (60 percent)
- The Cougars held a plus-14 rebounding edge
- From the charity stripe the Cougars went 17-for-19
UP NEXT: The Cougars travel east on Sixth Avenue for a Tuesday evening contest against MSU Denver. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. against the Roadrunners.
