GUNNISON, CO – In today's game of basketball, shooting the three-point shot well is the great equalizer. It has the ability to overcome a lot of deficiency.
On Saturday evening Western used the long distance shot as a vital key to their offense as they posted a 90-78 victory against Colorado Christian.
HOW IT HAPPENED: Both teams came out after the opening tip shooting efficiently. During the first 20 minutes, both teams shot better than 50 percent from the floor. The Mountaineers took their efficiency behind the three-point line. Western went 10-for-13 from behind the arc in the opening stanza as they built a 48-38 lead at intermission.
In the second half the Cougars mounted a comeback. Slowly and methodically Colorado Christian dwindled their double-digit deficit down to one point (60-59) when Justin Engesser hit one of two foul shots with 11:50 left in the contest.
Unfortunately that was as close the Cougars got down the stretch. After seeing their lead drop to that single point, Western scored 16 of the next 20 points to build their lead back to double figures with 6:34 remaining. A final scoring spurt got Colorado Christian as close as eight points but they couldn't draw any closer in their road finale.
As a team the Mountaineers made 18 of their 28 shots from behind the arc. They tied Colorado Mesa for the most three-pointers made in an RMAC game this season while their 64.3 percent shooting effort was tied for the fifth best effort by a league team this year.
COUGAR LEADERS: Spencer Hoffman tied his career high with 30 points, 20 of which came in the second half. The sophomore also registered his fourth double-double of the year with an 11-rebound performance.
Both Justin Engesser and Elijah Oliver each had 13 points while Jake Hornick's 11 points rounded out the double figure scorers for the Cougars.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- The Cougars converted 61.7 percent of their shots; their best shooting percentage of the season
- Colorado Christian went 6-for-12 from behind the arc
- There were just 48 total rebounds in the game (Colorado Christian 27-21 edge)
UP NEXT: The Cougars conclude their campaign with a three-game home stand beginning on Friday, Feb. 21 when they host Westminster at 7 p.m.
