Men's Basketball
Neuhaus Moves into First Place in Career Blocks
December 22, 2008—Justin Neuhaus, CCU’s 6’11” powerhouse in the paint and the 2008-09 RMAC Pre-Season Defensive Player of the Year, recently moved into first place all-time in the CCU record books with 122 career blocks.
Only a junior, Neuhaus surpassed the old mark of 115 held by Brian Stamer (2004-2008) on December 14, when he blocked four shots against the Mesa State Mavericks in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Justin added four more blocks in two wins this past weekend, and has already accumulated 20 on the young season.
“Justin is changing the game for us on the defensive end,” noted Coach Daniels. “His commitment to defense has been a key to our success, and his athleticism, length and timing are making it tough for teams to attack the basket.”
Congratulations to Justin Neuhaus for his record-setting accomplishments and good luck to the CCU men’s basketball team as they head into the thick of conference play in 2009!
Neuhaus’ Double-Double Helps Cougars Beach Wales 77-69
December 21, 2008—CCU's Justin Neuhaus recorded his second double-double in as many games, posting 13 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Cougars to a 77-69 (box score) victory over the Johnson and Wales Wildcats Saturday afternoon in Denver, Colorado.
Jobi Wall also added 13 points and a pair of boards for a CCU team that led 44-31 at the break and outscored the host Wildcats 38-33 in the second half.
Rye Olson chipped in 11 points on 3-5 shooting from downtown, while dishing out a game-high five assists in the Cougar victory.
Ethan Fisher paced Johnson and Wales with 21 points and four steals.
With the win, CCU improves to 6-4 on the year and is back in action on January 6, when they host Johnson and Wales at 7:00 p.m.
Hot Shooting Cougars Out-Gun Mustangs 89-72
December 18, 2008—The CCU men’s basketball team filled up the net from long range Thursday night, shooting 56% from the field, including a red-hot 48% from beyond the arc in an 89-72 (box score) win over the Western New Mexico Mustangs at the CCU Event Center in Lakewood, Colorado.
Justin Neuhaus controlled the action in the middle, posting a game-high 18 points and 10 rebounds, while blocking three shots and moving into first place all-time in the CCU record books for career blocks.
Jordan Long tacked on 15 points to go with a sizzling eight assists and only two turnovers in the CCU win.
The Cougars jumped out to an 8-0 start and were never seriously threatened, trailing only one time in the first half and taking a comfortable 50-37 lead into the break.
CCU opened up the advantage to as many as 23 in the second stanza, before eventually settling for the 17 point victory.
Tyler House stuffed the stat sheet for the Cougars with eight points, nine rebounds, seven assists and four steals.
Peter Bailey paced the high-percentage Cougar attack with 14 points on 5-6 shooting, including a 4-5 showing from the land of plenty.
Andy Sohlich led the way for the Mustangs with a team-best 16 points, while Devin Stewart notched seven points and dished out seven assists.
With the win, CCU moves to 5-4 on the season and 2-1 in the RMAC. Western New Mexico falls to 3-6 overall and 0-2 in conference.
The Cougars are back in action Saturday afternoon when they square off against Johnson and Wales University at 3:00 p.m. The game will be held at Manual High School.
Neuhaus, Cougars Corral Mavericks 76-67
December 14, 2008—CCU’s Justin Neuhaus unloaded for a season-high 21 points to go with six boards and a game-best four blocks, as the Cougars eased to a 76-67 (box score) victory over the Mesa State Mavericks Sunday afternoon in Grand Junction, Colorado.
CCU trailed 6-1 early in the action, but rallied to take a 42-29 lead in the break and extend the margin to as many as 17 points in the second half.
Brendan Puckett added 17 points, including a nifty 5-10 shooting display from deep.
Rye Olson chipped in 12 points while shooting 4-6 from downtown and dishing out five assists in the CCU victory.
Mesa’s Ryan Matthews led all players with 29 points and three steals in the Maverick loss.
The victory improves CCU’s season tally to 4-4 (1-1 RMAC) on the year, while Mesa drops to 4-3 (1-1 RMAC)
The Cougars are back in action this Thursday when they host the Western New Mexico Mustangs at 8:00 p.m.
Second Half Surge Lifts Mountaineers over CCU 82-66
December 12, 2008—The Western State Mountaineers outscored the CCU men’s basketball team by 16 points in the second half to roll to an easy 82-66 (box score) decision over the Cougars Friday night in Gunnison, Colorado.
Brendan Puckett led CCU with 21 points, three assists and four rebounds in the setback.
CCU went into the intermission all knotted up at 33, and led by as many as five points early in the second half, before Western rolled out a 14-1 run over a short three minute time span to put the Cougars on their heels.
The Mountaineers pulled ahead by double digits midway through the final period and held a comfortable lead for the duration of the contest as they cruised to the 16 point victory.
Four players logged double-digit scoring for Western, led by Jeremy Brooks, who poured in a game-high 22 points, while collecting nine rebounds, dishing out six assists and shooting 4-5 from distance.
CCU’s Justin Neuhaus tacked on 14 points, six boards and four blocks for the Cougars.
The Cougars are back in action this Sunday at 12:00 p.m. when they travel to Grand Junction, Colorado to battle the Mavericks of Mesa State.
Cougars Payback Billings 76-71 in Day Two Rematch
December 6, 2008—The CCU men’s basketball team got even with the Montana State-Billings Yellow Jackets, defeating the hosts 76-71 (box score) in the final game of the back-to-back set Saturday afternoon in Billings, Montana.
CCU fell 62-59 in the previous night of action, as a Brendan Puckett three ball rattled out as time expired.
It was Puckett once again leading the way for CCU with 22 points on 8-15 shooting.
Tyler House added 16 points and six rebounds, while Jordan Long tacked on 16 points, seven assists and only one turnover in the Cougar win.
CCU jumped ahead late in the first half, and never trailed in the second, running the lead up to as many as nine points midway through, before pulling out the five point victory.
The Cougars shot 49% for the game and a stellar 47% from downtown and out-rebounded the Yellow Jackets 36-29.
The win moves CCU back up to an even 3-3 on the year, while Billings falls to 3-4.
CCU now gears up for the conference opener this Friday when they square off against the Western State Mountaineers in Gunnison, Colorado at 8:00 p.m.
Cougars Fall Short 59-62 at Montana-Billings
December 5, 2008—A game winning three point attempt by CCU’s Brendan Puckett rimmed out with three seconds remaining, as Montana State-Billings held off a late Cougar charge to pull out a narrow 59-62 (box score) victory Friday night in Billings, Montana.
Jordan Long led all players with 23 points on a 9-15 shooting display in the CCU loss.
The Cougars went into half time with a 31-35 deficit and trailed by as many as eight points mid-way through the second half.
CCU made several charges late in the final stanza to close the deficit to only one point. The last came with 36 seconds showing, when Long canned a ‘J’ to bring the Cougars to within a single digit at 58-59.
Billings went 1-2 at the freebie stitch on the following possession and with time running down, Puckett narrowly missed the opportunity to steal the victory.
Tyler House continued to impress, logging nine points on 4-5 shooting, while snagging nine rebounds for the Cougars.
Montana State’s Travis Bunker posted the games only double-double, erupting for 12 points, 13 rebounds and doling out five dimes for the Yellow Jackets.
Both teams are right back at it tomorrow evening when they square off at 4:00 p.m.
Brian Stamer Named to the RMAC All-Century Team
November 25, 2008—One year removed from competition, former CCU men’s basketball standout Brian Stamer, has been selected to the RMAC All-Century Team.
The RMAC All-Time Men's Basketball Team consists of 12 players and a head coach who were selected by representatives from the conference's schools that participate in the sport of men's basketball. Official records for RMAC men's basketball date back to 1972, but it is known that the conference has sponsored the sport of men's basketball since the 1920s.
As a Cougar, Stamer was a three-time All-RMAC First Team selection and was voted the 2008 RMAC Player of the Year. Brian holds almost every significant scoring and rebounding record at CCU and was named a 2007-08 Top-25 All-American, while leading the Cougars to an RMAC East Division Championship and their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 14 years.
Metro State landed three players on the all-time team, including DeMarcos Anzures, who was voted the all-time top player in RMAC history.
The RMAC All-Time Top Coach is Mike Dunlap, who led Metro State to the 2000 and 2002 NCAA Division II National Championships. Dunlap is now the associate head coach at the University of Arizona.
As part of the Centennial Celebration, all-time teams are being selected in 19 RMAC sports. The RMAC's Centennial Celebration will take place on July 11, 2009 at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs.
Long Leads Cougars over Aquinas 72-67
November 23, 2008—CCU’s senior guard Jordan Long, caught fire to the tune of 23 points, including a 5-10 shooting display from deep, as the Cougar men’s basketball team defeated Aquinas 72-67 (box score) Saturday night in the final game of the Metro State Classic.
The Cougars trailed by as many as eight points early on, but used a 26-6 run over a span of ten minutes to pull ahead 30-18 on a Brendan Puckett layup with five minutes left in the first half.
Aquinas employed a second half rally of their own to turn a 14 point deficit into a one point lead by the eight minute mark, but a Tyler House three ball and some clutch free throw shooting down the stretch gave the Cougars the five point advantage by game’s end and their second win in a row.
House finished with 16 points on 6-8 shooting, while grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out three assists in the win.
Puckett added 11 points and six boards in 30 minutes of action.
Pedja Lazic paced the Aquinas effort with a team-best 17 points and five rebounds, while converting 9-14 free throw attempts.
With the win, CCU improves to an even 2-2 on the season, and now prepares for back-to-back games at Montana State-Billings on December 5-6.
High Percentage Shooting Sparks Cougars to First Win
November 21, 2008—The CCU men’s basketball team put on a shooting clinic Friday night, connecting on 24-38 (63%) field goal attempts, including an 11-20 (55%) effort from downtown, as the men cruised to a 78-69 (box score) victory over Dickinson State in game one of the Metro State Classic.
Brendan Puckett was the lead sharp shooter for the men, going a perfect 5-5 from the field, 2-2 from deep, and 2-2 from the free throw line to finish with 14 points and four rebounds.
In all, six Cougars finished the evening in double-digit scoring, only one of which missed more than three shots in the win.
Jordan Long logged a game-high seven assists for a CCU team that never trailed and led by as many as 12 points on multiple occasions.
Dickinson's Nathan Lebsock led all scorers with 25 points on 8-18 shooting.
With the win, CCU improves to 1-2 on the season and is back in action this evening against Aquinas College at 5:00 p.m.
Late Three Lifts #7 Central Oklahoma over Cougars 63-57
November 16, 2008—A go ahead three point make by Chance Hardaker with 3:05 remaining and some clutch free throw shooting down the stretch sparked the #7 Central Oklahoma Bronchos to a 63-57 (box score) victory over the CCU men’s basketball team Sunday afternoon in the final game of the Washburn Classic.
Hardaker’s only make of the game broke open a 55-55 tie and the Broncho’s were able to convert 5-6 freebie shots in the final minute. The Cougars were plagued by a 2-4 performance at the stripe, combined with a turnover and two missed long distance attempts in the final two minutes.
Central Oklahoma’s Lance Harper led all players with 18 points on 6-10 shooting and eight rebounds.
Brendan Puckett led the way for CCU on the offensive end, scoring 14 points on 5-9 shooting, including an efficient 4-8 effort from the land of plenty.
Justin Neuhaus chipped in 11 points and seven rebounds in the Cougar loss.
The Cougars are back in action this Friday when they battle Dickinson State in the Metro State Classic at 5:00 p.m.
Washburn Overwhelms Cougars 75-54 in Season Opener
November 15, 2008—Lekheythan Malone scored 24 points on 8-9 shooting, while inhaling nine rebounds to lead the Washburn University Ichabods to a 75-54 (box score) victory over the CCU men’s basketball team Saturday night in the season opener for both teams in St. Louis, Missouri.
Jordan Long paced the Cougar attack with a team-best 14 points and four assists, while shooting 4-9 from behind the arc.
CCU only trailed 25-33 at intermission, but failed to get anything going in the second stanza, as the Ichabods out-muscled the Cougars 42-29 in the final 20 minutes.
The Cougars shot 40% from the field and an icy 66% from the charity stripe, while committing 25 turnovers in the loss.
The men look to get their first notch in the win column tomorrow evening when they face Central Oklahoma at 5:00 p.m. local time.
Neuhaus Earns Second Pre-season Defensive Player of the Year Nod
September 25, 2008—Justin Neuhaus, CCU’s 6’11” man in the middle, has been named the 2008-09 RMAC Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season.
Neuhaus anchored the paint for the Cougars last season, scoring seven points and grabbing four rebounds per game. Justin blocked a team-high 57 shots and was named to the Honorable Mention All-RMAC team for 2007-08.
The Cougars are picked third in this year’s pre-season polls, and are fresh off a 2007-08 RMAC East Division Championship and their first NCAA Tournament invite in 13 years.
B2 Networks to Provide Live Video for Fall and Winter Sports
August 25, 2008—The Cougar Athletic Department is proud to announce that B2 Networks will be providing live internet video streaming for men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball and men’s and women’s basketball home games for the 2008-09 season.
In addition to CCU games, hundreds of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference contests will be available to watch via the B2 Networks starting on August 29. Fans will be able to purchase games on a pay-per-view basis or via a season pass.
Individual game passes are only $7.00. School all access passes will be $79.95 and will include all available RMAC games for one sport at CCU, both home and away.
For only $125.00, fans can purchase a school all access pass, which will feature access to all available RMAC events which CCU competes in, for soccer, volleyball and basketball, home and away.
For the B2 Networks’ programming guide visit http://www.b2tv.com/, or for information about B2 Networks, visit http://www.b2now.com/
Denmon Joins Cougars for Upcoming Season
Reposted from the Bullard Banner News (Aug. 20, 2008)
Spencer Denmon of Brook Hill recently broke some new ground for the Guard basketball program, becoming their first-ever college basketball signee.
The 6'8, Denmon is going to play at Colorado Christian University in Lakewood, Colorado, which is located 10 minutes west of Denver.
CCU is a Division II university, coached by David Daniels.
Colorado Christian posted an 18-13 record overall last season and went 13-6 in conference play, finishing tied for first-place finish in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
After the Guard finished second in district with a 9-3 record, and made it to state, they beat the defending state champs in a blow out game at regionals.
The Guard’s season eventually ended as they lost to Northeast Kingwood by seven points at the state tournament.
Denmon already possesses the ability to play several slots with his ball-handling ability, but with his size, he knows CCU will be counting on him for inside play.
"This summer I have mainly been in the gym lifting weights, and working on getting my release quicker," Denmon said. "Earlier this summer I worked out with my former coach (Reed Rawlings), who has bounced around the league for a few years and is now overseas playing in Europe."
When asked about his decision on the Colorado school, Denmon was quick to answer.
"I have lived in Tyler, Texas my entire life, so any big move is dramatic," Denmon added. "I made this decision based off what I felt was God leading me there.
"I had some other offers that I felt would have kept me in my comfort zone, which there's nothing wrong with, but I felt Colorado Christian was right for me."
Upon making his visit to the campus, Denmon had nothing but praise.
"When I first visited CCU I fell in love with it because of the small school atmosphere, and I felt comfortable there because it felt like a college version of Brook Hill."
A big decision maker for Spencer was the head coach.
"CCU head coach, Daniels made a great impression on me when I visited because of the concern he showed for his players' well being, and not just how many points they're putting up per game."
Denmon has some goals set and high expectations for the next level.
"For my freshman year I am expected to fill my role," Denmon said. "I will probably be coming off the bench as the six or seven man, but we'll see how the preseason goes."
Last season alone, Denmon averaged 19.4 points per game, grabbed 12.7 rebounds each game and blocked 2.3 shots per game.
One thing for certain, Brook Hill made an impact on Denmon's life.
"When I transferred from Robert E. Lee I had no idea how different my life would be”, the future Cougar concluded. “Before I left, I felt I was lukewarm in my faith, but when I arrived at Brook Hill I met good friends, knowledgeable teachers, and committed coaches. I owe a lot to their development of me as a person and student as much as anything else."
"Two years ago I never would have thought I would be in a position to play college basketball,” Denmon said wrapping things up. "Brook Hill did not only give me that opportunity, but also made me a man of God."
Men’s Basketball adds Jobi Wall for Upcoming Season
April 23, 2008—The CCU men’s basketball team is pleased to announce the signing of Jobi Wall, a 6’6” forward from Faith Christian High School in Arvada, Colorado.
As a senior, Wall led the Faith Christian Eagles to a class 3A State Championship, while scoring a team-high 15.4 points per game and pulling down 5.5 rebounds per game.
Wall poured in 417 points in his final year at FCHS, shot 62% from the floor, 80% from the free throw line and connected on an impressive 47% of his attempts from behind the arc.
Jobi capped a stellar senior campaign with 1st team All-State recognition, while earning the nod as MVP of the 3A State Tournament.
“We are so excited to have Jobi joining the Cougar family,” stated head coach Dave Daniels. “He is a great student, a great athlete, and most importantly has a mature personal walk with God. He is a winner who understands the commitment needed to achieve success on our level.”
Jobi will be graduating from FCHS this May with a 3.95 GPA.
Stamer Selected to Collegiate Basketball Invitational
April 9, 2008—CCU all-American forward Brian Stamer, has been selected to play in the prestigious Collegiate Basketball Invitational on April 24-26 in Wadsworth, Ohio.
The Collegiate Basketball Invitational is the most prominent event for college basketball seniors from NCAA II, NCAA III and the NAIA levels. There are only 64 players invited to attend from over 1,000 universities throughout the country.
As a senior, Stamer led the Cougars to their first-ever RMAC East Division Championship, and CCU’s first appearance in the NCAA National Tournament in 14 years.
Stamer finished his illustrious career as a Cougar with an RMAC Player of the Year nod, while placing first place in the CCU record books in seven career categories, including career points scored (2,007), rebounds (958) and blocked shots (115).
Peter Bailey
Men's Basketball
Why CCU?
I chose to attend CCU because I wanted the opportunity to play basketball at the highest level possible while being challenged in my faith. The guys on the team welcomed me immediately and the way in which every guy on the ...
