LAKEWOOD, CO- CCU returned from a four-game roadtrip on Saturday for a matchup with Black Hills State. The game was a fierce battle throughout, with the game coming down to the final minutes, but in the end it was the Yellowjackets who came away with the 79-73 victory. 

A Bradley Land dunk got the spark lit under the Cougars, and he continued to dominate with consecutive layups to tie the game at six. A Tate Odvody jumper pushed his team ahead by three, and Bobby McWard hit a three-pointer to stretch the lead to five. An Odvody three later put CCU up four as they headed into the final 10 minutes of the first half. 

Land continued his excellent night with two more layups, and CJ Barnes chipped in with a jumper to keep the offensive rhythm going. Noah Kon later made a jumper, and Land closed the half with a jumper to push his team ahead 38-31 at the half. 

A three-point play from Odvody got the offense going in the second half, and a Land layup sent CCU ahead by nine. Nic Zeil sent the place into a frenzy with a three-pointer to make it 48-36 with 16:41 to go as the momentum sat squarely with the home team. 

BHSU began to chip away at the lead though, and midway through the half they trailed by just one. Kon had a five-point burst with a three and layup to put his team back ahead by eight, but the Yellowjackets continued to stay close and closed the deficit to one again. 

A jumper with a little over three minutes to go sent BHSU ahead, and the visitors continued to score in the clutch as they went on a 10-1 run to pull away in the final minutes for a 79-73 victory. 

Land had a tremendous night with 24 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals, while Kon chipped in 17 points. Jacob Everson had 9 points followed by Odvody with 8.  

CCU plays again on February 7 against Chadron State at home at 7 p.m. MST.