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Men's Basketball Stephen Hinkel

Game Previews: Cougars Open New Year with CSU Pueblo, Adams State

Men's Basketball Stephen Hinkel

Game Previews: Cougars Open New Year with CSU Pueblo, Adams State

Colorado Christian vs. CSU Pueblo
Saturday, Jan. 2 | 4:00 p.m.
Lakewood, Colo. (CCU Event Center)

No Fans Allowed
  • Over the last 17 seasons, the Thunderwolves have a 13-10 winning edge; they have won the last four meetings
  • CSU Pueblo has a three-game winning streak vs. the Cougars in Lakewood
  • The last win for the Cougars was Feb. 28, 2017 in Pueblo (54-52); Last win in Lakewood was Jan. 23, 2016 (115-113)
Follow Along:
RMAC Network
Live Stats
Game Day Flipcard (PDF)

Colorado Christian vs. Adams State
Sunday, Jan. 3 | 4:00 p.m.
Lakewood, Colo. (CCU Event Center)

No Fans Allowed
  • Last season the Cougars broke a five-game Adams State winning streak in the series with an 86-73 win in Lakewood
  • Since the 2003-04 season, Adams State has a 17-8 record vs. the Cougars
  • In the last 10 match-ups the Grizzles are 7-3
Follow Along:
RMAC Network
Live Stats
Game Day Flipcard (PDF)

Nationally Ranked Shooting (and Rebounding) 

By averaging 13 made three-pointers per game, the Cougars are tied for the third in the nation. Currently DBU is making a nation-best 17 per game. Colorado Christian has made 65 in their five games this season with those 65 being the third most of the nation. Just one behind the second spot (66 - Washburn) then in the first spot is Quincy with 74. As a team the Cougars are converting 38.2 percent of their shots from behind the arc which ranks 22nd nationally. 

During the Cougars win vs. Fort Lewis, Ross Williams grabbed 17 rebounds which is tied for the second most in a single game this season in the country.

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 the second week of December.

During the Cougars 84-79 win against Fort Lewis on Saturday evening, Dec. 12, 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 were 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 19.4 points per game scoring average ranks 4th in the RMAC. He ranks in first in the league with 20 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 (60 straight). He is closing in on 1,000 career points scored and needs just 144 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 (7.0 rpg) and steals (2.2 spg). 

Stafford Fitting in Nicely

Andy Stafford has slide into the starting line-up since transferring from SW Minnesota State. The sophomore has started each game and is averaging 35.8 minutes per game; the second most on the squad. He is second in the RMAC in three-pointers made (14) and is tied for fifth in free throws made (16). From behind the arc he is making 48.3 percent of his attempts which is the best among qualified players in the league. 

Another Three-Point Note

In the RMAC, five of the top nine players in three-pointers made are from Colorado Christian. Williams (20), Stafford (14) and Aiden Cantwell (11) are first, second and fourth respectively in the league. Engesser (9) and Christian St. Germain (9) both are tied for sixth. 

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.
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Players Mentioned

Justin Engesser

#20 Justin Engesser

G/F
6' 5"
Junior
Andy Stafford

#13 Andy Stafford

G/F
6' 4"
Sophomore
Ross Williams

#3 Ross Williams

G
5' 10"
Junior
Christian St. Germain

#14 Christian St. Germain

G/F
6' 5"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Justin Engesser

#20 Justin Engesser

6' 5"
Junior
G/F
Andy Stafford

#13 Andy Stafford

6' 4"
Sophomore
G/F
Ross Williams

#3 Ross Williams

5' 10"
Junior
G
Christian St. Germain

#14 Christian St. Germain

6' 5"
Junior
G/F