LAKEWOOD, CO- Colorado Christian took on New Mexico Highlands on Saturday night in their final home game of the season. The Cougars played inspired basketball in front of a raucous crowd to claim the victory 76-64. 

HOW IT HAPPENED- The energy in the CCU Event Center was palpable from the start, and the Cougars fed off of it all night. Ross Williams got the scoring started with a three-pointer and completed a four-point play with the foul after he hit the shot. Shaylen Woodberry continued to play well with a three of his own, and Christian Bento and Andy Stafford got buckets to fall to make the score 13-12 Cowboys. Stafford pushed his team ahead by one with a jumper, and Nic Ziel stretched the lead with a three midway through the half

DJ McDonald hit from beyond the arc, and Williams joined in with another three as the lead stood at 27-22. A late jumper from Williams made it 32-26 at the half.

Colorado Christian pushed the advantage to 10 with buckets from McDonald and Isaiah Alonzo to start the second half. Ziel picked up a layup and the Cougars lead grew to 13. Christian Bento fired up the gym with a layup and foul to pick up three points for his team, and a Jason Gallant three made it 51-38 heading down the stretch.

The Cowboys fought to cut the lead down to eight with 7:39 remaining, but Alonzo pushed it back to 10 with a layup. McDonald hit a big three with 4:47 remaining to make the lead 13, and Williams scored his final points at home with a three as the Cougars closed with a win 76-64.  

COUGARS LEADERS:
DJ McDonald paced his team with 19 points and Isaiah Alonzo posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. McDonald paced the team with four assists. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• The Cougars put up 30 points in the paint to the Cowboys 16

• Colorado Christian put up 13 second chance points

• The game was tied once and the lead changed three times throughout