Men's Basketball
Men’s and Women’s Basketball to Add JV Program
April 29, 2009—The Colorado Christian University Athletic Department is pleased to announce that the men’s and women’s basketball teams will be adding a junior varsity program which is set to begin in the upcoming 2009-2010 year of competition.
Each program will carry 10-12 additional players and will compete primarily against regional junior college teams. Athletic scholarship money will be available for athletes who qualify, in addition to an automatic $1000 CCU scholarship for students who enroll from partner high schools.
CCU’s junior varsity program provides a great opportunity for players to enjoy the full collegiate athletic experience, with the potential to develop skills and progress to the varsity ranks.
For more information, please contact Brandon Nicol at bnicol@ccu.edu or 303-963-3192.
Cougars Secure Third Place with Win over Northwestern
March 21, 2009—The CCU men’s basketball team ended the season in style, scoring an 82-70 (box score) win over Northwestern College in the third place game of the NCCAA National Tournament.
Three players reached double-digit scoring for the Cougars, led by Justin Neuhaus, who logged 21 points on 8-11 shooting, to go with eight rebounds and four blocked shots.
Brendan Puckett ended his college career with a bang, erupting for a game-best 22 points, while connecting on all four of his attempts from downtown.
Not to be outdone, Jobi Wall punctuated his freshman season with 20 points and seven rebounds, including a nifty 4-8 showing from the land of plenty.
The hot-shooting Cougar squad led by five at the half (42-37) and increased the margin to as many as 14 in the final 20 minutes. As a team, CCU connected on 59% of their field goal attempts, including a sizzling 55% effort from beyond the arc.
With the victory, the Cougars finish the season at 21-13, and put an exclamation point on a strong season that included an RMAC final four appearance and top-three finish in the NCCAA finals.
Cougars Stumble to 44-61 loss in NCCAA Semi’s
March 20, 2009—The CCU men’s basketball team shot their way out of the NCCAA tournament Friday night, hitting only 30% of their field goal attempts, 21% of their three point try’s and 64% of their free throw shots in a 44-61 (box score) loss to Nyack College in the NCCAA semi finals.
Brendan Puckett led the men with 14 points and six boards, while Justin Neuhaus chipped in 10 points and five rebounds.
CCU fell behind 32-21 at the half and just couldn’t get anything going after the break, trailing by as many as 18 in the second stanza of action.
The Cougars are back in action tomorrow evening as they square off against the Northwestern Eagles for the NCCAA third place game. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. local time.
Strong Second Half Propels Cougars to NCCAA Semi Finals
March 19, 2009—The CCU men’s basketball team outraced the Oakland City Mighty Oaks by 14 points in the second half, and cruised to an 81-61 (box score) victory over the hosts in round one of the NCCAA National Championship Thursday night in Oakland City, Indiana.
Four players notched double digits for the Cougars, led by Justin Neuhaus, who posted 20 points on 8-13 shooting, while finding the time to block five shots in the Cougar win.
CCU held a 34-28 advantage at the break, and used an 11-4 run midway through the contest to break the game wide open.
The men extended the margin to 16 points (72-56) by the four minute mark thanks to a Jobi Wall jumper, and eventually increased the advantage to as many as 22 (81-59) with just under two minutes to go on a Ryan Holocher long ball.
Brendan Puckett added 19 points and six rebounds for the Cougars, including an efficient 3-5 effort from beyond the arc.
Wall tacked on 15 points and a team-best seven rebounds, while Nick Fisher got saucy to the tune of 10 points and a game-high nine assists in 30 minutes of action.
With the victory, head coach Dave Daniels and the rest of the Cougars have tallied their first 20 win season in program history.
One step closer to the ultimate goal, the men are back in action tomorrow evening when they square off against Nyack College in the NCCAA semi final. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. local time.
NCCAA Brackets Set, Cougars #1 Seed
March 16, 2009—Fresh off a central region championship, the CCU men’s basketball team has been recently named the #1 seed in the NCCAA national championship bracket.
The Cougars are only three wins away from their first-ever NCCAA national title and will tip-off the action against #8 Oakland City University in round one this Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in Oakland City, Indiana.
Stay up to date on all of this weekend’s excitement, by clicking here to access the official tournament website!
Cougars Oust Central Baptist, Capture Regional Crown
March 14, 2009—The CCU men’s basketball team overcame some poor shooting and the lack of two seniors to post a 67-59 (box score) victory over Central Baptist in the NCCAA Regional Championship game Saturday afternoon in McPherson, Kansas.
Brendan Puckett led CCU with 18 points, while Jobi Wall notched a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Justin Neuhaus added 17 points and eight boards in the Cougar victory.
CCU shot a less than stellar 37% on the game, including a cool 23% effort from deep, but held a 40-32 advantage on the boards while outscoring Central Baptist by five points in the second half.
The Cougars now set their sights on the NCCAA national finals, which will take place next weekend at Oakland City University in Oakland City, Indiana.
Times and schedules will be posted when available.
Cougars Dismiss SW Assemblies in Regional Semi
March 13, 2009—The drive for an NCCAA national title remains alive, as the CCU men’s basketball team downed Southwest Assemblies 83-63 (box score) Friday night in the regional semifinals in McPherson, Kansas.
Jobi Wall led the way for CCU with 23 points on 5-12 shooting from beyond the arc.
Justin Neuhaus added 17 points for the Cougars, while Brendan Puckett logged 12 points in the win.
As a team, CCU shot 14-36 from the land of plenty and 17-25 from the charity stripe.
The Cougars are back in action tomorrow afternoon in the regional final game, when they square off against Central Baptist at 2:00 p.m. Click here for a live audio feed of the action!
Skyhawks Out-Duel Cougars in RMAC Semi Final
March 6, 2009—Kirk Archibeque erupted for 36 points and nine rebounds to lead the RMAC’s third seeded Fort Lewis Skyhawks to a 92-79 (box score) victory over the CCU men’s basketball team in RMAC semi final action at the State Fairground Event Center in Pueblo, Colorado.
The Cougars went into the break clinging to a 41-39 lead, but just couldn’t contain a talented Fort Lewis team for another 20 minutes, as the Skyhawks outscored CCU 53-38 in the final stanza.
Fort Lewis marched out to a six point lead early in the second half, before consecutive three’s by Tyler House and Brendan Puckett put the Cougars back in business with the score tied up at 57 each.
Jordan Brooks answered right back for the Skyhawks on the ensuing possession, knocking down a trey that would spark a 12-2 run and all but put the game in the bag for Fort Lewis.
The Skyhawks eventually pushed the margin to as many as 16 by the six minute mark, and held on for the 13 point victory.
CCU’s Jordan Long led a cast of five Cougars who finished in double-digits, scoring a team-high 22 points on 9-14 shooting.
House added 14 points, while connecting on 2-4 of his three point attempts in the CCU loss.
The Cougars shot a mild 46% for the game, including a 37% clip from downtown, while the Archibeque-led Skyhawks out-rebounded CCU 39-34, including a decisive 18-13 advantage on the offensive glass.
With the loss, CCU is eliminated from the RMAC post season, and now sets their sights on an NCCAA National Title. The NCCAA regional playoffs will begin next weekend at Central Christian College in McPherson, Kansas.
Stay tuned to the CCU website, as game times and matchups will be announced this upcoming week.
Cougars Stun #2 Highlands in Playoff Thriller
March 3, 2009—Peter Bailey knocked down one of the biggest shots of his career with eight seconds left, capping a late Cougar three point barrage, and propelling the men to the RMAC Final Four thanks to an incredible 86-83 (box score) victory over the #2 seeded New Mexico Highlands Cowboys Tuesday night in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
In a game that featured an electric atmosphere, a jam packed arena, a second half comeback and just about everything else you could ask for in playoff basketball, the Cougars flat-out willed themselves to a three point decision over a Highlands team that entered the contest with a 20-7 overall record.
Trailing 46-35 at the half, the Cougars slowly whittled the Cowboy advantage down to three points on two occasions, before eventually forging the first tie of the game when Bailey converted a three point play with 10 minutes remaining.
The hosts seemed to have an answer for every Cougar run however, and managed to pull back ahead by five thanks to a Chris Dunn dunk, and a Roman Andrade trey on consecutive possessions.
Just when the Cowboys looked to be back in control, Justin Neuhaus silenced the deafening home crowd when he converted a monster jam off of a Jordan Long lob pass while drawing the foul.
CCU was eventually able to pull ahead by three points when Long got his defender in the air, and downed a leaning bank shot at the 3:18 mark.
Less than 20 seconds later, Highlands was back in business thanks to a series of three free throws that knotted the contest up for the fourth time in seven minutes.
The final minute and a half was a see-saw battle, as a Neuhaus layup on one end was answered with a Highlands three point connection on the other end. Trailing by one, Long answered right back with a clutch three that put CCU back in the lead.
Highlands tied it up again on some freebies, before Tyler House drained a second-straight Cougar three with 36 ticks showing.
Not to be outdone, Roman Andrade then sliced to the rim for Highlands, converting the layup and completing a three point play for the games sixth tie with the clock down to 24 seconds.
24 seconds was more than enough time to be a hero however, as CCU’s all-time leading three-point shooter found an open look with time winding down and calmly drained the shot that would send the Cougars to their second straight RMAC semi-final appearance.
Neuhaus led the way for CCU with 23 points on 6-8 shooting to go with four blocked shots.
Five other Cougars reached double-digits, as Brendan Puckett notched 16 points on 5-8 shooting, Long finished with 13, Jobi Wall tacked on 11, while House and Bailey each chipped in 10.
NMHU’s Andrade led all scorers with 28 points while shooting 9-25 from floor, inhaling six rebounds and doling out four assists.
The Cougars are now winners of four straight and look to keep the streak alive as they square off against Fort Lewis this Friday at 8:00 p.m. at the State Fairgrounds Event Center in Pueblo, Colorado.
Neuhaus Named Defensive Player of the Year, Long, Puckett All RMAC
March 4, 2009—The postseason awards are in and CCU’s 6-11 man in the middle, Justin Neuhaus, has been named the RMAC Defensive Player of the Year and RMAC East First Team, while guards Brendan Puckett and Jordan Long were selected to the RMAC East Second Team.
Only a junior, Neuhaus is averaging 15 points and six rebounds per game, has blocked 66 shots on the year and moved into first place all-time in the Cougar record books with 168 career blocks.
Brendan Puckett had another strong year for the men, averaging 13 points and four rebounds per contest, while starting all 28 games and hitting a respectable 41% of his attempts from downtown.
Not to be outdone, Long leads the Cougars with 154 combined assists and ranks second overall in the RMAC with 5.70 dimes per outing.
All RMAC postseason honors were selected by conference coaches. Click here for the entire release.
Neuhaus Named RMAC Player of the Week
March 2, 2009—Coming off the best back-to-back weekend of his career, Justin Neuhaus of the CCU men’s basketball team has been named RMAC Player of the Week.
The 6’11”Neuhaus led the Cougars to two home wins this past weekend, unleashing for a career-high 37 points on an incredible 15-16 shooting display, while pulling down eight rebounds and blocking three shots against Nebraska-Kearney.
The following evening, Neuhaus tallied a team-high 22 points to go with five boards and five blocks in a convincing 83-65 win over Chadron State.
Over the weekend, Justin averaged 29.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and four blocks, while shooting 82% from the floor.
Neuhaus and the rest of the Cougars are back in action Tuesday night, when they face the RMAC’s second seeded New Mexico Highlands Cowboys in round one of the conference tournament in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Game time is slated for 7:00 p.m.
Cougars to Face Highlands in Round One
March 1, 2009—March is here and the madness all begins this Tuesday, as the CCU men’s basketball team heads to Las Vegas, New Mexico to battle the New Mexico Highlands Cowboys in round one of the RMAC playoffs.
The Cougars finished the season with a 16-11 overall record and an 11-8 mark in conference action. Saturday night’s victory over Chadron State secured the seventh seed for CCU, who will battle the RMAC’s second ranked Cowboys this Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.
New Mexico Highlands is fresh off of an 84-77 win over Western State, a victory that locked up the second seed and also marked NCAA history, as the Cowboys posted a 19 game turnaround from last season, an all-time best for NCAA Divisions I, II and III.
CCU gave Highlands all they could handle this past January 10th, falling 58-63 in overtime, after going on a six minute scoring draught to end the second half.
Led by a strong senior class and the RMAC’s premier post presence, Justin Neuhaus, the Cougars now enter the tournament as winners of four of their last six games and playing some of their best basketball of the season.
Don’t forget Cougar fans, if you can’t make the short and easy drive to Las Vegas, New Mexico this Tuesday, you can always cheer on the men from the comfort of your own home by simply clicking this link and tuning in to the B2 broadcast.
Cougars Cap Regular Season with Win over Chadron
February 28, 2009—Justin Neuhaus scored a team-high 22 points and blocked five shots to lead the CCU men’s basketball team (15-11, 10-8 RMAC) to an 83-65 (box score) win over Chadron State College (8-18, 4-14 RMAC) Saturday night at the Cougar Event Center in Lakewood, Colorado.
The Cougars closed out the regular season in style, storming out to a 21-7 lead midway through the first half, before taking a 34-22 advantage into intermission.
CCU maintained a double-digit lead throughout the second half, extending the margin to as many as 21 points, before settling for the 18 point win.
Tim McLaurin led the Chadron attack with 22 points and three rebounds, while Marco DeSouza added 17 in the loss.
Brendan Puckett capped off his final home game with 13 points and a game-best six rebounds.
Stay tuned to the CCU website as the RMAC playoff bracket will be posted as soon as it is released.
Neuhaus Catches Fire, Cougars Cruise 88-76 over Kearney
February 27, 2009—Justin Neuhaus was absolutely unstoppable Friday night, finishing with 37 points and guiding a hot-shooting CCU men’s basketball team (15-11, 10-8 RMAC) to an 88-76 victory (box score) over the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers (10-15, 7-11 RMAC) at the CCU Event Center in Lakewood, Colorado.
Neuhaus’ game and career-best 37 came via a spectacular 15-16 shooting display, while the big man managed eight rebounds and dismissed three shots on the evening.
Drake Brenake drained 25 silky-smooth points for the Lopers, to go along with a team-best seven rebounds in 40 minutes of work.
The Cougars went into intermission on a high-note, when Peter Bailey sank a deep three with two seconds remaining to give CCU a commanding 46-34 lead and mountains of momentum heading into the second half.
A Jordan Long layup extended the CCU margin to 15 midway through the second half and the Cougars looked to be cruising to an easy double-digit decision.
The guest Lopers had one last comeback left in them however, forging a 7-0 run with three minutes to go and pulling to within five points (79-74) on a Jeremy Cruise three-ball.
A pair of Nick Gill free throws and a Neuhaus hook shot gave the hosts a 7-0 cushion with just over a minute remaining, and CCU was able to extend the margin back to 12 points by game’s end.
Long tacked on nine assists and Brendan Puckett poured in a team-second 21 points in the Cougar victory.
As a team, The Cougars connected on 68% of their field goal attempts, including a blistering 50% from the land of plenty, while dishing out 22 assists on 33 made baskets.
The win marks CCU’s first season-sweep of Nebraska-Kearney since joining the RMAC in 1996.
CCU is still in the thick of the RMAC playoff hunt, with a chance to finish 6th, 7th or 8th in the final conference standings. The Cougars will wrap-up the regular season tomorrow evening when they host the Chadron State Eagles at 7:00 p.m.
Cougars Fend-off Mountain Lions in Foul Filled Slug Fest
February 20, 2009—The CCU men’s basketball team (13-11, 8-8 RMAC) edged out an important RMAC win over the East Division’s second ranked UCCS Mountain Lions (9-14, 9-6 RMAC), holding on for an 82-75 (box score) victory in a physical contest that featured 52 fouls and a combined 64 free throw attempts Friday night at the Cougar Event Center in beautiful Lakewood, Colorado.
CCU’s 6’11” tower of power, Justin Neuhaus, dazzled fans with a game-high 31 points, while blocking four shots and pulling in five rebounds.
The Cougars looked to be making quick work of the visiting Mountain Lions, exploding out of the gates and taking a 10-2 lead on a Brendan Puckett deep ball less than five minutes into the action.
UCCS methodically worked their way back into the game however, and eventually tied things up at 38 each heading into intermission.
CCU burst ahead once again by four points early in the second half, but the cushion was quickly erased as the guests forged a 10-0 run to pull in front by six points at the 12 minute mark.
The next seven minutes would feature three lead changes and three ties, before the Cougars were finally able to pull ahead for good thanks to a clutch trey by Puckett and some timely Neuhaus free throws down the stretch.
Puckett finished with 21 points and six boards, while shooting 5-8 from the land of plenty in the Cougar win.
Four players notched double-digit scoring for UCCS, led by Jordan McClung’s 16, while Ben Feilmeier, Chris Fernandez and Frank McCollum each finished with 11.
The Cougars are back in action next Friday when they host the University of Nebraska-Kearney at 8:00 p.m.
Cougar Men Lose in Final Seconds
February 17, 2009—Justin Neuhaus posted 21 points and 10 rebounds – his 5th double-double of the season – but CCU’s 13-11 squad couldn’t connect late in Tuesday’s game against Colorado Mines. The Cougars led most of the way in the RMAC battle, which had post-season implications on the line, but were unable to stop key Oredigger runs at the end of both periods.
CCU seemed to be in control of the game with a 10-point lead and 11 minutes remaining. CSM guards Kyle Pape and Grant Gunhus shot the Orediggers back into the game, however, on their way to 10 threes and 40 points on the night collectively. A 3 point lead Cougar lead with 35 seconds remaining vanished with a Mines layup and ensuing free-throws.
Junior Peter Bailey connected on 5 shots from behind the arc to give the Cougars 17 points in the heartbreaking 66-67 loss.
CCU returns to action Friday night to face University of Colorado – Colorado Springs at 8 pm.
Cougars Lose Thriller in Denver
February 14, 2009 – Basketball fans who watched the nationally televised CCU-Metro game from home or in the stands Saturday saw a thrilling match-up between 2 teams whose rivalry on the court has only intensified over the last few years. Unfortunately for those cheering for Colorado Christian, the outcome was not what they would have hoped for.
RMAC leader Metro State jumped on top of the Cougars early, racing to a 13-2 lead in the first 4 minutes before CCU – led by freshman Jobi Wall – answered back. Refusing to be rattled by Metro’s defensive pressure, they chipped away at the lead until a 3 pointer from Wall put the visitors up by 2 at the 10 minute mark of the first half.
Wall turned things up from that point forward. The 6-6 Arvada native posted 5 more points, 2 boards, and a steal to help propel the Cougars to a 36-31 half-time lead.
The CCU lead grew to as many as 9 points in the second-half before Metro answered. MSCD guard Marquise Carrington caught fire from behind the arc, and despite CCU’s best defensive efforts, hit 5 threes en route to 16 points in the final 20 minutes. With just under 7 minutes left in the game, Metro regained the lead for the last time. CCU kept it interesting to the end – coming as close as 1 point, but weren’t able to capitalize on late opportunities. The Cougars lost 68-74.
Wall finished with a career-high 25 points and 6 boards, while junior Justin Neuhaus added 16 points and 3 blocks. The loss drops CCU to 13-10 overall and 8-7 in RMAC play.
CCU returns home Tuesday to face Colorado School of Mines. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.
Cougars Roll With Win Over Regis
February 13, 2009 – CCU Men’s Basketball returned to the win column Friday, with an important road victory over Regis University in Denver. In front of an enthusiastic crowd made up of mostly Cougar faithful, CCU controlled the Rangers, and was led again by junior Justin Neuhaus, whose 2-game tally against Regis this year adds up to 46 points.
The San Marcos, TX native had his way under the basket, shooting 7 of 9 from the field on his way to a fast 18 points in only 28 minutes of play.
Down only after the first Regis bucket of the game, CCU took the lead on a Peter Bailey 3-point shot and never looked back. The Cougars led by as many as 12 in the first half, and only continued their pace after the break, cruising to a 77-67 win.
Senior guard Brendan Puckett scored in the double-digits against the Rangers for the second time this year, matching Neuhaus’ 18 points to lead all CCU scorers. Regis’ Matt Rosinski paced the Rangers with 23.
CCU advances to 13-9 (8-6 RMAC) on the year, and returns to action Saturday at Metro. The 1:00 pm game will be televised nationally by CBS College Sports and affiliates as part of the 2009 NCAA Division II regular season package.
CBS College Sports airs on DirecTV 613, Dish Network 152, and Comcast Denver 412. The game will also be featured live on Altitude 2 (Comcast Denver 5). Check local listings for further details.
Cold Shooting Cougars Stumble on the Road
February 7, 2009 – Bad luck followed the CCU men’s basketball team from Golden to Colorado Springs this week, as a normally hot shooting Cougar team connected on only 30% of their shots Saturday night at University of Colorado - Colorado Springs. (box score) The match-up was a key one in the race to the RMAC Shootout, with both teams battling for sole possession of second place in the RMAC’s tough East Division.
A strong showing from junior Justin Neuhaus (15 points, 11 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 assists) wasn’t enough to spark the road team, whose shooting woes started early in the game. CCU connected on only 1 of their first 9 shots before Brendan Puckett drained a rare 3 for a Cougar team that shot only 23% from deep.
Despite landing in foul trouble late in the first half, senior guard Jordan Long joined the Neuhaus scoring effort, adding 15 points of his own on a team high 60% shooting efficiency.
Down 21-34 at the break, CCU spent the second half chipping away at the UCCS lead. A 12-1 scoring run brought the resilient squad to within 2 with 9 minutes left in the game, but wouldn’t be enough. Late free throws sealed the deal for the home Mountain Lions, who held on to secure the 63-60 win.
UCCS guard Ben Feilmeier led his squad with 14 points, while forward Frank McCollum brought down 11 boards. UCCS out-rebounded the Cougars 49-39.
The loss moves the Cougars to 12-9 overall and 7-6 in RMAC play. CCU returns to action Friday at Regis, tipoff is set for 7 pm in Denver.
Mines Blasts Cougars 88-60
February 4, 2009 – The CCU men’s basketball team was out-rebounded 23-31 and turned the ball over 23 times en route to an 88-60 (box score) setback to the Colorado Mines Orediggers Tuesday night in Golden, Colorado.
Jobi Wall posted a team-best 15 points on 4-6 shooting for a Cougar team that logged only five offensive rebounds to CSM’s 13, and shot a cool 60% from the free throw line.
Kyle Pape led the Orediggers with 20 points, while Dale Minschwaner dished out a game-high seven assists in the Mines victory.
A Tyler House three point connection gave the Cougars a 10-9 lead with 13:29 showing, but that would prove to be the last lead of the game for CCU, as Mines rattled off a 22-3 run over the next seven minutes to all but put the game on ice.
With the loss, CCU falls to 12-8 overall and 7-5 in conference action, while Mines climbs to 11-9 and 6-6 in the RMAC.
The Cougars look to get back in the win column this Saturday, when they square off against UCCS in Colorado Springs. Game time is slated for 8:00 p.m.
Neuhaus, Cougars Roll Regis 80-63
January 31, 2009 – Regis University had no answer for CCU’s Justin Neuhaus, who tallied a game-best 28 points to lead the CCU men’s basketball team to an 80-63 (box score) win over the Rangers Saturday evening at the CCU Event Center in Lakewood, Colorado.
Matt Rosinski led the way for the guest Rangers with 16 points and five rebounds, while shooting a perfect 6-6 from the charity stripe.
The Cougars led 31-21 at the half, extended the margin to as many as 16 points (41-25) early in the second, and were never seriously threatened for the remainder of the contest.
Regis shot a chilly 37% from the field, and found themselves on the wrong end of a 25-40 rebounding disparity.
Peter Bailey tacked on 13 points and a strong seven boards for the Cougars, while moving into first place all-time in the CCU record books with 197 made three point baskets.
Jason Burke-Kavros and Joseph Odugbela each chipped in 15 points in the Ranger loss.
With the win, CCU improves to 12-7 and 7-4 in the RMAC, while Regis drops to 6-13 and 3-8 in conference.
The Cougars are back in action this Tuesday, as they travel to Golden, Colorado to battle the Colorado Mines Orediggers. Tip-off is slated for 8:00 p.m.
Second Half Surge Propels Metro over CCU
January 30, 2009 – The Metro State Roadrunners rallied from a five point halftime deficit, outscoring the CCU men’s basketball team by 13 points in the second half, and edging out an 88-80 (box score) decision Friday night in Lakewood, Colorado.
Four players reached double digit scoring for the Roadrunners, led by Jesse Wagstaff, who notched 25 points and seven rebounds.
Brendan Puckett paced the CCU attack with 25 points to go along with a game-best eight rebounds.
The Cougars started strong and took a five point lead (36-31) into the half, thanks to a Jobi Wall layup with only eight seconds remaining.
CCU’s tower of power, Justin Neuhaus, extended the Cougar advantage to seven points with a thunderous dunk on the opening possession of the second stanza.
On the next two possessions, Metro’s Brain Minor got the Runners back on track by downing a three-ball and converting a bucket in the paint to cut the CCU lead back to only two points.
Each squad battled through a see-saw battle for the next eleven minutes, before Metro was able to muster an 11-0 run capped by a Marquise Carrington jumper with 5:34 to go.
The Cougars answered right back with a 7-1 run, pulling within four points when Puckett tossed in a fast break layup with just over three minutes remaining.
That would be as close as the hosts would get however, as Metro converted 12 free throws down the stretch to put the Cougar comeback bid on ice.
Neuhaus added 17 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in the Cougar loss.
With the win, Metro improves to 15-3 on the season and 9-1 in the RMAC. The Cougars drop to 11-7 overall and 6-4 in conference.
CCU is back in action tomorrow evening when they host the Regis Rangers at 7:00 p.m.
Cougars Lash Lopers on Long’s Late Threes
January 24, 2009 – Jordan Long drained two late three point attempts and added some clutch free throws at the end, giving the Cougars a 75-70 (box score) win over the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers and their first victory at Kearney since joining the RMAC in 1996.
Long finished the contest with a game-high 24 points to go with eight assists and five rebounds, while shooting 4-6 from downtown.
The Cougars got off to a slow start, trailing by as many as 14 and going into the break down by 12 (40-28).
CCU must have had the better halftime chat however, as Long opened up the final 20 minutes with a three-ball, and the Cougars eventually whittled the deficit down to a mere two points (55-53) with just under eight minutes to go.
A nifty Rye Olson reverse layup knotted things up at 59 each, and the Cougars were finally able to pull ahead for the first time since early in the opening half, when Long canned a trey with four minutes remaining.
Jordan added yet another three with 1:51 showing, and Olson applied the final dagger with under a minute to go, as he canned a long ball from the right wing to put CCU ahead by six.
Following a missed UNK jumper, Long was able to put the exclamation point on the victory with a pair of free throws that gave CCU a comfortable seven point cushion with a mere14 ticks showing.
CCU’s Justin Neuhaus tacked on 12 points, six rebounds and five blocked shots in the Cougar win.
Chris Deans paced the Loper attack with 17 points on 7-14 shooting.
The win marks the first time CCU has ever scored a victory at the Health and Sports Center in Kearney, Nebraska.
CCU now improves to 11-6 (6-3 RMAC), while Kearney falls to 6-10 (3-6 RMAC)
The Cougars can now set their sights on an exciting homecoming this weekend, as the men welcome cross-town rivals Metro State College and Regis University. Tip for Metro is slated for 8:00 p.m. on Friday, and Regis is set for 7:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Puckett, Cougars Clip Eagles 65-58
January 23, 2009 – Brendan Puckett logged a game-high 16 points to lead the CCU men’s basketball team to a 65-58 (box score) victory over the Chadron State Eagles Friday night in Chadron, Nebraska.
In almost routine fashion, the Cougars stormed out to a double-digit first half lead, before letting the host Eagles edge their way back into the game and take a one point advantage (29-28) into the half.
CCU regained the lead early in the final stanza, but Chadron kept things interesting throughout, never letting the Cougars gain more than a five point cushion until forced to foul with under a minute remaining.
Freshman sensation, Jobi Wall, was brilliant once again in the CCU victory, pouring in 13 points, gobbling up nine rebounds and dishing out two assists.
With the victory, CCU improves to 10-6 (5-3 RMAC), while Chadron drops to 5-11 (1-7 RMAC).
The Cougars wrap-up the tough road set tomorrow evening, when they battle the University of Nebraska-Kearney Lopers at 8:00 p.m.
Jordan Long Appears on RMAC Radio Show!
January 22, 2009 – Jordan Long, the floor general for the 2008-09 CCU men’s basketball team, made a recent appearance in segment one of the RMAC weekly radio show.
Click here to listen to the interview and catch up on all of the latest RMAC men’s basketball news!
Bailey, House, Kettles Named RMAC All-Academic
January 21, 2009 – The CCU Athletic Department is pleased to announce that Peter Bailey, Tyler House and Jake Kettles have each been named to the 2008-09 RMAC All-Academic Team.
Topping the list is Bailey, who was named to the RMAC All-Academic First Team. The 6’6” guard out of Deming, New Mexico is currently averaging nine points and four rebounds per game, while holding a 3.6 grade point average in the field of Youth Ministry.
House was named to the RMAC All-Academic Second Team. The 6’3” guard from Fort Collins, Colorado currently boasts a 3.21 in History, and averages eight points and a team-second five boards per contest.
Senior guard, Jake Kettles, rounds out the list of men’s award winners, as the 6’2” point guard from Sherwood, Oregon was named to the All-Academic Honor Roll while holding a 3.23 in Business.
Hot Shooting First Half Helps Cougars Ground Skyhawks 78-75
January 17, 2009 – The CCU men’s basketball was lights out in the first half Saturday night, downing 60% of their three point attempts, taking a 14 point lead into the break and holding off a late Fort Lewis rally to pull out a 78-75 (box score) decision at the Cougar Event Center in Lakewood, Colorado.
Freshman post Jobi Wall, was unconscious in the first half scoring frenzy, pouring in 17 points in only 14 minutes of action, while shooting 7-8 from the floor and adding one rebound and a single blocked shot.
The Cougars took a comfortable 49-35 lead in the break, and looked to be cruising to their fourth conference win of the season.
Fort Lewis had other plans however, and opened up the second half with a 14-2 run to pull within two points (51-49) with just under 16 minutes remaining.
The Cougars would bend but not break, running the advantage back up to 11 points on a Brendan Puckett tip-in with 8:53 showing.
The hard-nosed Skyhawks had one more run left in them, as they cut the double-digit CCU advantage all the way down to only one point (73-72) when De Andre Lansdowne sank a contested layup with only 2:30 to play.
Puckett ran the margin back up to three on a pair of made free throws, and a silky-smooth baby hook shot by Justin Neuhaus gave the Cougars some breathing room with just over a 1:30 to play.
Puckett and Wall each finished the contest with 17 points, while Jordan Long tacked on 16 points and five assists.
Peter Bailey added 10 points and eight strong rebounds, and Neuhaus poured in 11 points and four blocks in the Cougar win.
Kirk Archibeque notched the game’s lone double-double with 20 points and 14 rebounds for Fort Lewis.
The Cougars outgunned the guest Skyhawks 92% (12-13) to 68% (17-25) from the free throw line.
With the victory, CCU improves to 9-6 overall and 4-3 in the RMAC. Fort Lewis drops to 14-4 and 4-2 in conference.
The Cougars now gear up for a tough road set, as they battle the Chadron State Eagles on Friday, before traveling to Kearney, Nebraska to take on the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers on Saturday. Both games are slated for an 8:00 p.m. tip off.
Grizzlies Rally, Upend Cougars 73-66
January 16, 2009 – The Adams State Grizzlies overcame a three point halftime deficit to outscore the CCU men’s basketball team by ten points in the second half, and pull out a 73-66 (box score) victory over the Cougars Friday night in Lakewood, Colorado.
Four Grizzlies reached double digit scoring, paced by Seth Heinbaugh who finished with 17 points and eight rebounds, while shooting 5-6 from the floor.
CCU’s Brendan Puckett led all scorers with 20 points, while Jordan Long notched a double-double with 11 points and 10 assists.
The Cougars looked to be in control early in the first half, leading by as many as nine with 12 minutes on the board.
Adams slowly whittled the Cougar lead back to a manageable amount, and stole the momentum heading into the half when Vitor de Zoppa drained a three-ball with only four seconds left.
Another Adams State trey with 14 minutes remaining in the final period gave the guests a narrow two point cushion (49-47) and a lead they would never relinquish.
CCU failed to find any kind of rhythm in the second half, shooting only 4-15 from deep, and amazingly, finding their way to the free throw line only one time.
With the victory, Adams improves to 4-10 and 1-5 in conference, while the Cougars move to 8-6 and 3-3 in the RMAC.
The Cougars hope to break the two game losing skid tomorrow evening as they face the Fort Lewis Skyhawks at 7:00 p.m.
Scoring Draught Sinks Cougars 63-58 in OT
January 10, 2009 – Ice cold may not properly sum up the Cougar’s late-game scoring draught Saturday night, as the men went scoreless for an entire 6:51 to close out the second half and did not get another point on the board until 1:40 remained in the overtime period. In all, CCU went over 10 minutes without scoring, gave up a nine point second half lead, and fell 63-58 (box score) in OT to the New Mexico Highlands Cowboys in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
CCU missed 11 scoring attempts down the stretch, including a relatively wide open layup attempt with 22 seconds remaining.
The Cowboys, who were not exactly radar love from the field either, tied the contest up at 54 each at the four minute mark on a free throw shot by Mindaugus Markevicus.
Fans of made baskets would be disappointed from that point on, as neither team was able to score in the final four minutes of regulation.
The iron continued to be unkind for CCU in the final five minutes, as the Cougars missed their first five shot attempts, before finally getting two points on the board when a Brendan Puckett jumper was counted due to basket interference.
Highlands was eventually able to break the scoring slump, as they rattled off the first six points of overtime and ultimately cruised to the five point win.
Puckett led CCU with 19 points and seven rebounds, while Jordan Long added 10 points, four assists and seven boards.
As a team, CCU shot 33% from the field and a forgettable 53% from the charity stripe.
The loss drops the Cougars to 8-5 overall and 3-2 in conference action, while Highlands improves to an impressive 10-3 on the season and 4-1 in the RMAC.
CCU is back in action this Friday when they host the Adams State Grizzlies at 8:00 p.m.
Sweet Shooting Cougars Scorch Pueblo 78-72
January 9, 2009 – The CCU men’s basketball team put on a regular shooting clinic Friday night, connecting on 66% of their long distance attempts, including a 54% clip from the field, while easing to their eighth win of the year with a 78-72 (box score) win over the CSU-Pueblo Thunderwolves Friday evening in Pueblo, Colorado.
Peter 'the heater' Bailey had the hottest of the hot hands in the CCU win, lighting the hosts up for 18 points, while shooting a sizzling 4-4 from the land of plenty.
Brendan Puckett and Jobi Wall each added 13 points and combined for nine rebounds in the Cougar win.
CCU overcame a five point deficit early in the game, battling back to lead by as many as six before eventually taking a four point advantage into the half.
Pueblo did their best to make things interesting in the second half, closing the gap to only one point with 16 minutes to play on a Marc Williams fastbreak layup.
The precision of the CCU offensive attack would prove to be too much however, as the Cougars knocked down one open look after another and eventually ran the lead up to as many as 11 points late in the game.
Justin Neuhaus added nine points and 10 rebounds for CCU, while Jordan Long erupted for six assists and only three turnovers.
Williams finished with 24 points on 9-12 shooting in the Pueblo loss.
With the victory, CCU improves to 8-4 overall and 3-1 in RMAC action. Pueblo drops to 5-7 and an even 2-2 in conference.
The Cougars hit the floor once again Saturday evening when they face New Mexico Highlands University at 8:00 p.m. in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
Cougars Escape Johnson and Wales 82-81
January 6, 2009 – The CCU men’s basketball team overcame some poor shooting and a feisty Johnson and Wales squad to post a second half comeback and pull out a narrow 82-81 (box score) victory over the Wildcats Tuesday evening in Lakewood, Colorado.
Justin Neuhaus led all players with 25 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots in the CCU win.
Unable to dust off the holiday rust, the Cougars looked out of sync the entire evening, falling behind 44-39 at the half and trailing by as many as 10 points early in the second half.
Despite the dismal showing, CCU was able to put together a 16-4 run over a six minute span in the final half, pulling ahead 62-60 with 8:41 remaining.
From that point on, the Cougars battled through five ties and a single lead change, while holding off a late barrage of Wildcat treys to escape with the one point decision.
Ethan Fisher and Nate Lark each scored 21 points for a Johnson and Wales squad that shot a sizzling 52% from the land of plenty.
CCU’s Jordan Long chipped in 11 points and a huge three point connection down the stretch, while dishing out a game-best nine assists.
Freshman standout, Jobi Wall, notched one of the best games of his young career with eight points and nine strong rebounds.
As a team, the Cougars shot a frigid 25% (7-28) from distance and only 68% (15-22) from the free throw line.
With the win, CCU improves to 7-4 on the season and is back in action this weekend as they square off against the CSU-Pueblo Thunderwolves at 8:00 p.m. in Pueblo, Colorado.
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).
Nick Fisher
Men's Basketball/Men's Baseball
Why CCU?
I chose to attend CCU because I wanted to become a man of God.
