Colorado Christian vs. MSU Denver
Tuesday, Dec. 14 | 7:30 p.m.
Denver, Colo. (Auraria Event Center)
No Fans Allowed

• The Cougars are 2-32 all-time in games played at MSU Denver with the last win coming in February 2017
• MSU Denver has a four-game winning streak against the Cougars
• Over the last six contests between the teams, the winning squad has scored at least 75 points

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Colorado Christian vs. South Dakota Mines
Saturday, Dec. 19 | 4:00 p.m.
Lakewood, Colo. (CCU Event Center)
No Fans Allowed

• Saturday's game is the seventh all-time between the two schools
• South Dakota Mines holds a 4-2 series edge and has won two straight in Lakewood
• The Cougars last beat South Dakota Mines 82-68 during the 2015-16 season

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Game Day Flipcard (PDF)

Shooters Goin' To Shoot

The Cougars have made 41 shots from behind the arc which leads the RMAC. They have made 11 more three-pointers than MSU Denver who have made the second most among conference teams while playing one more game that Colorado Christian. Nationally the Cougars rank fourth in the nation, making 13.7 three-pointers per game. They are making 40.2 percent of their shots from behind the arc which ranks second in the RMAC and 16th in the country. 

Individually Ross Williams (13) and Andy Stafford (9) rank first and second respective in the league for three-pointers made.

Player of the Week

After putting up some of the conference's best numbers during the opening weeks of the season, Ross Williams was named the RMAC Player of the Week.

During the Cougars 84-79 win against Fort Lewis on Saturday evening, the guard registered 28 points, 17 points and five assists while playing all 40 minutes. He also had just one turnover. Williams' point total was the second most by an RMAC player this season while his 17 boards are the most. The junior transfer from Menlo College (CA) point and rebound totals were a personal collegiate best. Williams scored his points from a variety of places as he went 8-for-17 from the floor while converting all but one of his 10 shots from the charity stripe. From behind the arc, he nailed three of his four attempts. 

His 22.7 points per game scoring average ranks 1st in the RMAC. He also ranks in first in the league with 13 three-pointers made. 

So Many Starting Jobs

Justin Engesser has been a main stay in the starting line-up. The senior has started every game since his sophomore year (59 straight). He is closing in on 1,000 career points scored and needs just 158 more points this season to become the 11th players to hit the milestone. Currently he is third on the team in scoring (10.0 ppg) while leading the squad in rebounding (7.7 rpg) and steals (3.0 spg). 

Sharing and Stealing

With three games in the books, the Cougars rank seventh in the league in assists (12.0 apg) and steals (6.67 spg). Ross Williams, Andy Stafford and Justin Engesser all rank in the league's top 15 in assists per game while Engesser's 3.0 steals per game average is tied for the third in the RMAC. 

Head Coach - Liam Simmons

The Colorado Christian athletics department is pleased to announce the hiring of Liam Simmons as its ninth men's basketball head coach in program history. The 2020-21 campaign will be his first at Colorado Christian.

The Australian-born Simmons has most recently served as the head coach of the Franklin Bulls in New Zealand's National Basketball League. Simmons joins the Cougars staff with a wealth of knowledge and passion for the game.

During the 2018-2019 season Simmons stepped away from college basketball to focus his effort and energy on enhancing the skills of individual players at the NBA and professional level. As a skill development coach, Simmons based himself in Philadelphia and worked with several players, but dedicated his time and focus to specifically working parallel with the Philadelphia 76ers staff, supporting their coaches in the development of All-Star Ben Simmons.

Simmons has NCAA coaching experience at the Division I and II levels. In 2018 Simmons enjoyed an opportunity to work at University of California Riverside under fellow Australian, and mentor, head coach David Patrick. He also gained collegiate coaching experience at Southwest Baptist (MO) under head coach Clark Sheehy. Simmons spent four seasons (2014-2018) with the NCAA Division II school, earning a promotion in the final two seasons as the program's associate head coach. Before his four seasons with the Bearcats, he was an assistant coach at Nichols State (LA) during the 2013-14 campaign under head coach J.P. Piper.

He earned a Bachelor's of Science degree in Kinesiology in 2007 from San Diego Christian. Simmons also has a Master Degree in Education from Australian Catholic University in Melbourne (2008). 

Ground Rules

In late November, the RMAC released information about the season structure and return-to-play guidelines for basketball. All teams will have a 22-game conference schedule (non-conference play being optional), and any game that is not played due to COVID-19 issues will be declared a "no contest." All student-athletes and team support staff must test negative within 72 hours of the game, and in the state of Colorado, everyone in the arena will wear a mask except for the 10 active players on the court. An RMAC champion will be declared if at least five teams complete 50 percent of their originally approved schedule (11 games). The champion and RMAC Tournament qualifiers will be determined by use of the NCAA Division II RPI system.