Men's Basketball
Cougar Hoops Teams Sweep Springs Squads
February 5, 2010 – It was a rough night for the Mountain Lions of CU-Colorado Springs Friday in Lakewood. Both teams put up tough fights – at one point blood was shed – but neither had what it took to knock off tough Colorado Christian squads. The Cougar men and women defended their home court well, and at the end of the night the road teams were sent back to Colorado Springs defeated.
The CCU women set the tone for the night right off the bat, jumping out to a 12-0 lead. They kept a firm 
grip on the throttle for the rest of the night; with 10 minutes left in the first-half they led 35-10, were up 54-34 at half-time, and had an 88-58 lead with only 3 minutes left in the game.
“Tonight was an outstanding overall team effort,” noted Coach Tim Hays after eight of his players finished with 8 or more points. “The girls continue to improve every night and are going to peak at the right time of year.”
Juanise Cornell turned up the aggression against the Mountain Lions, posting 19 points and 12 rebounds. Jodi Krall’s 13 points, 6 boards, and 6 assists marked her second strong performance in as many games: the senior guard finished the week with 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
The women continue their march for the playoffs next week in their final home stance of the regular season. Still up 2 games in the RMAC East, the Cougars hope to continue their 6-game win (93-69 Friday, boxscore) streak in order to seal a first round home game.
The 8:00 game featured 2 men’s teams with identical records battling tooth and nail for a critical late-season win that would give them an advantage in the RMAC standings.
Obviously serious about stealing a win on the road, UCCS played a tough game and led by as many as 10 points in the first-half. Their pressure on defense made the going hard for CCU’s big men in the paint, but a hard-nosed Cougar team would not be pushed around. Though it wasn’t easy, senior Justin Neuhaus put up a game-high 21 points and 10 rebounds – and visited the line 9 times.
Despite being down 7 at the half, Colorado Christian stayed patient, moving the ball and attacking from all over the fl
oor. Their chilly 28% first-half shooting got warmer in the second (48%), and CCU outscored the Mountain Lions 46-27. It was a welcome sight for Cougar fans, who hadn’t seen the Christian squad put together a second-half strong enough to put them on top for the last few games.
Timely threes from Daniel Lemburg seemed to ignite the Cougars, who hit 4 shots from deep in the final 10. His 16 points marked a career high for the freshman guard.
CCU trailed for most of the game, and didn’t take their final lead until there was 10 minutes left to play. They maintained that lead the rest of the way, staving off any UCCS attempts at a comeback. The Cougars won 70-58 (boxscore), snapping a 3 game losing streak.
Find both Cougar teams back in action Friday at the Event Center. Games are schedule for 6:00 and 8:00 pm.
Second Half Woes Follow Cougars Back Home
February 2, 2010 – If only credit was given for first-half performances. Unfortunately, second periods are inevitable, and though they’ve led at the half in most of their recent games, CCU has developed a tendency to lose their advantage in the second 20.
Colorado Christian wasn’t flashy, but they were solid to start the game Tuesday night against Colorado 
School of Mines. Fighting hard for every rebound and every bucket, the Cougars found success from Justin Neuhaus in the paint and from Jobi Wall on the outside. Together the 2 Cougar scorers accounted for 21 of CCU’s 35 first-half points and 14 of 22 Christian rebounds. With 10 more boards than their opponents and strong numbers from the field, it looked as if the home team was on their way to a well earned – and much needed – victory in the RMAC. (Boxscore)
Things looked the same in the second, but not for long. CCU led for the first 10 minutes, still paced by Wall and Neuhaus. Just after a Neuhaus tip-in with 10:47 left in the game, however, Christian’s scoring efficiencies dried up. Mines catapulted to a 22-9 run, assisted by a Cougar drought in the field that lasted almost 10 minutes.
2 Cougar threes from Jon McGinley and Daniel Lemburg in the final minute were way too little, way too late, as the Cougars found themselves in a hole they couldn’t claw out of. One strong half – the second – was all the Orediggers needed to gain the 70-58 victory.
Wall ended the leading all CCU scorers with 21 points. Brett Green paced the Diggers with a game-high 28.
CCU is back at home Friday to take on CU-Colorado Springs at 8:00 pm.
Cougars Come Up Short in Denver Battle
January 30, 2010 - The CCU-Metro basketball game is always one Cougar fans get fired up for. Almost 200 of them made the short trip Saturday to watch two teams anxious to avenge disappointing Friday night losses.
Strong Metro defensive pressure combined with solid outside shooting had the Roadrunners on top of the contest fast. Cougar guard Rye Olsen hit a 3 in front of the Metro bench to narrow an early MSCD lead to 2, and a Tyler House lay-in from Olsen tied it at 17 with 9:30 left. Colorado Christian earned their first advantage of the game 3 minutes later when Jobi Wall found Daniel Lemburg behind the arc.
The Roadrunners answered with a 3 of their own. The teams traded buckets from there, until back to back Cougar fouls helped Metro advance their bonus once again. It was Metro's show from there. CCU misfired on every ensuing possession, while the Runners stepped up their offensive execution en route to a 17-2 scoring run - all leading to a 42-27 Metro lead at the break.
A certain threat from deep as of late, Olsen hit back-to-back-to-back threes to open the half. Wall and Tyler House followed suit, and in less than 4 minutes CCU was within 1. An Abram Ziemer make at the charity stripe tied the game at 53, and Joel Morris connected on a Cougar fast break right after to give CCU a critical lead. Unfortunately for the visitors, that would be the end of their prosperity; a 2-point deficit proved to be all the jumpstart Metro needed. The Roadrunners ignited a 23-6 run to seal the deal, closing the books on the Cougars in the 76-64 decision.
Though the outcome wasn't what they had hoped for, Colorado Christian showed some energy, hard work and aggression that had been lacking in the week's previous games, giving their fans (most of whom were decked in yellow) something to be proud of. The CCU chants after the game were heartfelt, showing all who were in attendance why – even in a loss – it’s great to be a Colorado Christian Cougar.
Turnovers Dash CCU Hopes
January 29, 2010 – Friday night’s game against a struggling Regis University team did not go the way the Colorado Christian men had planned. Although they led for almost all of the first-half and took a 40-31 lead into the break, 27 turnovers proved too crippling to overcome for the visiting Cougar squad. Regis scored 32 points off of giveaways in the 80-71 win, just their second in conference play this year. (Boxscore)
CCU led by as many 9 early on, aided by a scorching 77% shooting clip from deep. Daniel Lemburg, Rye Olsen, Jobi Wall, Abram Ziemer, and Jon McGinley all pitched in, giving the Cougars 21 first-half points from the land of plenty.
With 5 minutes remaining in the period, Regis launched a 6-0 scoring run using momentum gained from 3 straight Cougar turnovers. Though a Lemburg 3 ended the drought, CCU turned it over again on the next possession. It was a sign of things to come – it just didn’t look that way at the time. On most accounts, it was shaping up to be CCU’s night. At the break, Colorado Christian had out-rebounded Regis 18-10, and seemed on their way to their most solid offensive outing of the year.
The first 5 minutes of the second-half saw 5 quick CCU giveaways. With 14:15 on the clock, Regis’ Jordan Martinez stole the ball and converted it into the first Ranger lead since the opening minutes. Wall hit a 3 on the next possession to put CCU back up. RU wouldn’t be on top again until 2 Matt Rosinski free throws with 6:45 left put them up by 1. CCU played catch-up the rest of the way, but were never able to recover the lead. 2 critical turnovers – their final 2 of the night – put the game almost entirely out of reach for the Cougars.
The loss moves CCU to 7-10 on the year, 5-5 in RMAC play. Colorado Christian takes on Metro State Saturday. Game time is 3:00 pm.
Cougars Cook JWU
January 25, 2010 - Hoping to extend their shooting success from Saturday night’s win over Chadron, the CCU men came out swinging from deep in a non-conference contest at Johnson & Wales University Monday night. (boxscore) Despite a mere 48 hour break from hard-fought back to back games at home, the 
Cougars seemed eager to build on their momentum from the weekend, and appeared confident that would happen from behind the three-point line.
Though they wouldn’t find their groove until the second-half, CCU fired off 18 long-range shots in the first. They hit only 5, including 3 from sophomore Jobi Wall, but still held control until late in the period. JWU connected from downtown to tie the game with 1:12 to go, and just over a minute later nailed a shot that put them up by 2 heading into the break.
Fans saw a different Cougar team in the second. Persistence from the perimeter paid off – 2 quick threes started an 18-6 scoring run that the Wildcats would never be able to recover from. Wall and senior Justin Neuhaus had their way offensively, scoring at will for much of the game. Once again, the two combined for over half of CCU’s 83 points, scoring 27 and 23, respectively.
The CCU squad upped their defensive pressure in the second. Unable to execute against a sharp defense and unable to contain big Cougar scorers, JWU’s hopes at an upset proved futile. Colorado Christian won the contest 83-72.
CCU will use the rest of the week to prepare for their return to RMAC action this weekend. The Cougars travel to Regis University Friday (8:00 pm) and take on conference-leader Metro State Saturday (3:00 pm).
Cougar Shooters Send Chadron Packing
January 23, 2010 – A hot Colorado Christian men’s team had a feast from behind the arc Saturday night, leaving a visiting Chadron State College breathless and defeated - and on the losing end of a 72-58 decision. (boxscore, pictures)
In one of their strongest team shooting performances of the season, CCU caught fire, igniting for 36 points from deep, including 15 from Rye Olson and 12 from Jobi Wall. The Cougars connected on 12 
long range shots, but were anything but one-dimensional. Senior Justin Neuhaus once again proved his inside dominance, easily accounting for 22 of CCU’s 72 points. The 6-11 post controlled the paint on both ends, denying a season-high 7 Chadron attempts.
CCU led the game for almost all of the first 20 minutes. An 8-0 run late in the first-half expanded the Cougar lead, and gave the home team extra breathing room heading into the break. Neuhaus, Wall and Olson combined for all but 5 of CCU’s 39 first-half points.
Though Chadron came out of the locker-room determined to change the inevitable outcome, a strong-willed CCU defense (9 blocks, 6 steals) held off their hurried attempts. Christian’s 43% first-period shooting grew to 55% in the second. When the final buzzer sounded, 5 Cougar guards had connected from downtown, and CCU had won their fifth RMAC game of the year in impressive fashion.
Colorado Christian gets right back into action Monday, traveling across town to take on NAIA opponent Johnson and Wales at 8:00 pm before returning to RMAC play Friday.
Cougars Can’t Maintain First Half Momentum Against Lopers
January 22, 2010 – Despite 20+ scoring efforts from two Cougars, the Colorado Christian men could not
find their stroke late in a Friday night contest against the University of Nebraska-Kearney. (boxscore, pictures)
Hot first-half shooting for the Cougars (44% from the field, 66% from three) earned CCU the lead for much of the period. Sophomore Jobi Wall led the way for the home team, connecting on 4 for 4 from deep and going perfect from the charity stripe. His 16 points led all scorers into the break, and in addition to 14 from teammate Justin Neuhaus, helped give CCU a 46-40 first-half advantage.
That momentum could not be maintained, however, in the second. Changes in match-ups by UNK disrupted CCU’s offensive production, limiting the Cougars to a mere 26% shooting efficiency from the field (9% from deep). An 18-8 Loper run late in the game gave the visitors control down the stretch, and despite numerous efforts, CCU could not manage to steal that control away.
Together, Wall and Neuhaus combined for 43 points (20 and 23, respectively) and 20 rebounds (12 and 8). UNK’s Max Froehlich scored a game-high 27 in the 77-68 Loper win.
CCU returns to the floor 7:00 pm Saturday to face the Eagles of Chadron State.
Rosenthal Earns CCU’s First RMAC Academic Player of the Year Award; Five Additional Cougars Honored
January 20, 2010 – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference announced its 2009-10 All-Academic Basketball Teams Wednesday. Six Cougars made the list, including CCU senior Abby Rosenthal, who was recognized as this year’s Academic Player of the Year. The honor marks the first for any Colorado Christian student-athlete in any sport. 
Strong basketball statistics in addition to a solid 3.63 grade point average garnered Rosenthal her third RMAC All-Academic nod in as many years. The Communications major from Cedar Rapids, IA appeared on the Honorable Mention list as a sophomore and was named 1st Team All-Academic in 2009.
“Abby has been a leader in every way in our program and on the CCU campus,” commented Head Coach Tim Hays. “This is well-deserved recognition for a job very well done in every aspect of her career as a student athlete at Colorado Christian University.”
Senior Talmai Aguirre also received an Academic All-Conference nod. Aguirre, a Biology major with a 3.393 GPA, was named to the Second team for the third time in her career.
Sophomore Jobi Wall represents the Cougar men on the RMAC list, which was released Wednesday. A Business Administration major with a minor in Finance, Wall’s 3.647 GPA landed him a spot on the conference’s All-Academic Second Team. This was the first season he was eligible for the award.
Senior Holly Valdez (3.67, Secondary Education) and sophomores Kelsie Hert (3.50, Business) and Stephenie Allen (3.97, Pre-Med) round out the list of Cougars honored by the RMAC for their performances in the classroom.
“The student-athletes at CCU continue to represent our university with integrity, character, and excellence,” noted Athletic Director Darren Richie. “We are extremely proud of all of our students, and especially Abby, Talmai, Jobi, Holly, Kelsie, and Stephenie. They are leaders on our teams and in our community, and we join with the RMAC in congratulating them on a job well done in the classroom.”
To qualify for Academic All-RMAC, student-athletes must have a GPA of 3.30 or better, be a starter or reserve, and completed two consecutive semesters or three quarters at their current institution. Their GPA is what they had earned prior to basketball season beginning. RMAC Sports Information Directors at schools that sponsor the sport of women’s basketball selected First and Second Team Academic All-RMAC.
Double-Double Duo Lifts Cougars over Adams 88-72
January 16, 2010 – Justin Neuhaus came unleashed for 31 points, 15 rebounds and three blocked shots, while Jobi Wall tacked on 19 points, 10 boards and seven assists to lead the CCU men’s basketball team to an 88-72 victory over the Adams State Grizzlies Saturday night in Alamosa, Colorado.
The Cougars held a slim two point lead with 15 minutes to go in the second half, before opening up a stellar 15-0 run capped by a Rye Olson trey with 11 minutes to go that all but took the life out of the host Grizzlies.
CCU extended the margin to as many as 23 heading down the stretch and eventually settled for the 16 point decision.
Abram Ziemer tacked on 11 points and nine boards, while Olson finished with nine points, three rebounds and three assists.
With the victory, CCU improves to 5-8 overall and 4-3 in the RMAC. The men will be back in action next Friday as they host the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers at 8:00 p.m.
Cold Shooting Cougars Stumble at Fort Lewis
January 15, 2010 – The CCU men’s basketball team shot a chilly 35% from the floor and a forgettable 29% from deep in a 57-74 setback to the Fort Lewis Skyhawks Friday evening in Durango, Colorado.
The Cougars held the lead for three short minutes in the first half, before falling behind by seven points (28-35) at the break.
Fort Lewis opened things up in the second half, climbing ahead by double digits early on and eventually forging a 25 point cushion by the six minute mark.
Justin Neuhaus led the Cougars with 18 points, seven rebounds and three blocks, while Daniel Lemberg and Abram Ziemer each chipped in 11.
With the loss, CCU falls to 4-8 on the year and 3-3 in RMAC action. The Cougars are right back at it tomorrow evening when they travel to Alamosa to battle the Adams State Grizzlies at 8:00 p.m.
Rosenthal and Neuhaus Sweep Player of the Week Honors
January 11, 2010 – It was a remarkable weekend of basketball in the CCU Event Center last weekend, one in which two Cougar senior standouts showcased their leadership, skill, and composure under pressure. On Monday, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference honored Abby Rosenthal and Justin Neuhaus for their performances against New Mexico Highlands University and Colorado State University – Pueblo.
In a Friday night win over the visiting NMHU Cowgirls, Rosenthal recorded 14 points, 11 rebounds, 5 blocks, 2 assists and a steal – all in less than 20 minutes of action. The Cedar Rapids, IA native followed that up with a record showing against Pueblo’s Thunderwolves. Despite a 2 point Cougar loss – their first in RMAC play this year – Rosenthal dominated the paint. In addition to leading all scorers with 17 points, she set the bar for rebounds in the conference this year, shattering the 2009-10 single game record with an astounding 22. 3 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals capped off what was just one of many strong weekends the All-RMAC player has turned in in her career.
Strong and dependable as usual, Neuhaus led his CCU squad to 2 wins over their tough East Division opponents. Averaging 17.5 points and 8.5 boards, it wasn’t until the final 3 seconds of Saturday’s game against CSUP that the 6-11 post really proved his weekend dominance.
At the end of a tightly contested battle, a Neuhaus block, rebound, and time-out call in the waning seconds of the game gave the Cougars a sliver of hope to keep the contest from advancing to overtime. With 1.8 seconds remaining, CCU’s lone senior caught an 80 foot inbound pass from Jobi Wall, turned, and won the game with a soft finger roll in the face of a Pueblo defender.
Both players look to continue their dominating play this weekend as they travel to Ft. Lewis College and Adams State for the final weekend of East Division play.
Cougars Stun CSU-Pueblo in Final Seconds
January 9, 2010 – Just when it looked like overtime was inevitable, the Colorado Christian men proved there was still enough second-half left for them to finish what they set out to do (box score, pictures).
Down 9 after half-time, CCU found themselves battling to get back into a game that had been controlled by RMAC East Division opponent Colorado State – Pueblo. Hot outside shooting gave the Cougars the spark they would need to narrow the gap and eventually take the lead. Jobi Wall and Rye Olson led the way from deep, helping CCU to a sizzling 58% three-point field goal percentage. The Cougars outscored CSUP 41-30 in the second stanza, taking their first lead of the game with 15:20 left on the clock.
The visiting Thunderwolves didn’t make things easy. Led by the play of forwards Chris Busch and Imari Thomas (14 points apiece), CSUP battled the Cougars until the final minute of the game. Despite a 2 point lead with 2:03 left in regulation, the visitors could not take advantage of a late CCU turnover. A defensive rebound by Olson turned into a Justin Neuhaus layup that tied the game at 68 with :46 left. Though CSUP missed their first attempt at a game winner, the Thunderwolves controlled the rebound and worked the clock to assure the final shot of the night.
With 3 seconds left in the game, CCU’s Justin Neuhaus blocked and kept a Busch jumper, calling timeout with 1.8 seconds to go.
Wall’s inbound pass from under the CSUP basket to a waiting Neuhaus in the Cougar paint looked more like a prayer than a play. In Christian Laettner fashion, however, Neuhaus grabbed the ball, controlled it, turned to his left, and in the face of a CSUP defender nailed a 7 foot leaning finger roll. CCU sealed the 70-68 victory with nothing left on the clock.
The win improves CCU to 4-7 on the year, 3-2 in RMAC action. The Cougars take to the road next week, traveling to Fort Lewis on Friday and Adams State on Saturday. Follow all the action live on B-2.
House Shows up Big in RMAC Win
January 8, 2010 – Last March, despite odds and an unfriendly arena, the Colorado Christian men pulled off the upset of the season against #2 seed New Mexico Highlands in the first round of RMAC Tournament action. Then-sophomore Tyler House nailed a 3 with less than a minute remaining to give CCU a hard-to-come-by lead that would eventually propel the underdogs to a stunning road upset and advance the Cougars to the semi-finals of the RMAC Shootout.
Despite new teams and a new season, House found himself in familiar territory Friday night, leading his 2-7 Cougars to another big win over a much-touted NMHU team (box score, pictures). House’s intentions for the night were noticeable from the start, as the 6-3 guard out-hustled and out-worked the rest of the field en route to his first double-double of the season. His 15 points and 12 rebounds combined with 14 points and 10 boards from teammate Jobi Wall set the pace for a contest that saw tremendous battle from both teams until the final seconds of the game.
Not to be outdone, CCU senior Justin Neuhaus pitched in 22 points of his own, marking the fourth 20+ scoring performance this season for the 6-11 post.
Up by as many as 12 points in the first-half, CCU took a 2 point advantage into the break. The Cougars maintained control through the second, until a pair of Highlands free throws with 9 minutes left gave the visitors their first lead of the night. NMHU led the host Cougars for the next 7 minutes, until a Jobi Wall lay-up with 2:23 to go tied the game at 59. CCU relied on strong execution from the charity stripe the rest of the way.
The 65-61 win marks the second conference win of the year for the 3-7 squad (2-2 RMAC). CCU returns to the court Saturday to face CSU-Pueblo. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm at the Event Center.
Wall, Cougars Dethrone #6 Seattle Pacific
December 30, 2009 – The CCU men’s basketball team earned their second win of the year in impressive fashion, unseating the nation’s sixth ranked Seattle Pacific Falcons 73-69 (box score) Wednesday evening in the final game of the Falcon Invite in Seattle, Washington.
Jobi Wall went wild to the tune of 28 points and 13 rebounds, while connecting on 5-9 from long distance and earning a spot on the all-tournament team.
The sharp-shooting Cougars downed seven three point bombs to begin the game, and eventually carried a six point advantage into halftime.
Picking right up where they left off, CCU converted three more treys to open the second half, and extended the cushion to as many as 12 points on four separate occasions.
The previously unbeaten Falcons had one final run left in them, climbing back to within two points (71-69) on a driving layup with 18 seconds left. With time running down, the hosts were forced to foul and CCU’s Daniel Lemburg hit both ends of a double bonus to seal the deal on a hard-fought win.
Lemburg finished the evening with 12 points, four rebounds and five assists.
Justin Neuhaus tacked on eight points and four boards, while joining Wall on the all-tourney team.
Moving to 2-7 on the year, the Cougars return to conference action this upcoming Friday, when they host the New Mexico Highlands Cowboys at 8:00 p.m.
Men’s Basketball: Central’s Cook Cooks Cougars at SPU Tourney
December 29, 2009 – Central Washington’s JC Cook scored a game-high 24 points, including seven of CWU’s final 13 to lift the Wildcats to an 84-77 victory (box score) over the CCU men’s basketball team Tuesday evening in game one of the Falcon Invitational in Seattle Washington.
The Cougars trailed by as many as nine if the first half, before rallying to take a narrow one point (42-41) cushion into intermission.
Neither team was able to forge an advantage of more than four points during the hotly –contested second stanza, until the Wildcats finally sparked a 13-4 run to pull away with time running down.
Jobi Wall and Justin Neuhas each notched 21 points to pace the Cougars, while Joel Morris chipped in 13 points and six boards.
Tyler House added 10 rebounds, six assists and a pair of blocks in the losing effort.
CCU found themselves on the ugly end of a 24-9 turnover disparity, but remained competitive with a commanding 44-29 advantage on the glass.
With the loss, the Cougars have now dropped their third straight and move to 1-7 on the season.
The men are back in action tomorrow evening as they face the NCAA’s sixth ranked Seattle Pacific Falcons at 8:00 p.m. local time.
Western New Mexico Survives in Overtime Foul-Fest
December 12, 2009 – The Western New Mexico Mustangs pulled out a 92-84 overtime victory over the CCU men’s basketball team, in a game in which four Cougars fouled out and three others were whistled for four fouls, Saturday evening in Silver City, New Mexico.
The Cougars held a comfy 40-34 lead at the break and extended the margin to as many as 15 early in the second half.
Western was able to whittle the deficit back down to nine points at the four minute mark, before a pair of Justin Neuhaus free throws put the Cougars back up by double digits.
From that point on, the Mustangs were able to rattle off an 11-1 run thanks in part to four foul calls on the next five possessions.
Heading into the final minutes of regulation, the Cougars were playing without Neuhaus, who picked up all five fouls in the second half and Jobi Wall, who committed four second half fouls, in addition to starters Abram Ziemer and Anthony Urrutia.
With a depleted roster on the floor, the Cougars fell behind by two with 1:40 showing, but still managed to force the extended session thanks to a Joel Morris jumper with only 28 seconds to go.
Despite a valiant effort by the CCU bench, it was all Mustangs in the OT session, as the hosts out-dueled the Cougars 10-2 in the final five and snuck out the exits with the eight point decision.
In all, a total of 60 fouls were whistled on the evening, 34 against the Cougars and 26 for the home team.
Neuhaus led the Cougars with 25 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks in the losing effort.
Morris added 13 points on a 5-6 shooting display, while ripping down eight rebounds.
With the setback, CCU drops to 1-6 on the year and 1-2 in RMAC action. The schedule gets no easier for the men, who now gear up for Central Washington in game one of the Seattle Pacific Tournament on December 29. Tip off is slated for 6:00 p.m. local time.
Buffs Blast Cougars 84-65
December 7, 2009 – The University of Colorado Buffaloes dominated the first half of action and held off a late run by the CCU men’s basketball to team to pull out an 84-65 decision Monday evening at the Coors Event Center in Boulder, Colorado.
The host Buffs held a commanding 41-11 advantage late in the opening half, and took a sizeable 47-27 lead into intermission.
CCU kept battling however, finding a way to sneak back into the contest and pull to within only 10 points (53-63) when Jobi Wall canned a three-ball with just over nine minutes to go.
Following a Jeff Bzdelik timeout, the Buffs unleashed for 13 consecutive points over the next 3 ½ minutes to extend the margin back to 18 and all but put the contest in the bag.
Wall led the Cougars with 18 points and four assists in the loss.
Justin Neuhaus chipped in 16 points and three blocked shots, while Abram Ziemer logged the games only double-double with 10 points and 12 strong rebounds.
The Cougars return to conference play this Saturday, as they travel to Silver City, New Mexico to battle the Western New Mexico Mustangs at 8:00 p.m.
Cougars Roll Western for Win Number One
December 5, 2009 – The CCU men’s basketball team earned their first win of the season with a 77-69 victory (box score, pictures) over Western State College Saturday evening at the Cougar Event Center in Lakewood, Colorado.
CCU’s weapon of mass production, Jobi Wall, served up his first double-double of the year with 24 points and 10 rebounds, while dishing out four assists in the victory.
The Cougars roared out of the gates with four three-balls in the first five minutes, jumped out to a nine point lead early on and carried a 37-28 advantage into the half.
Western was able to keep things interesting in the second half, cutting the margin back down to two points at the 18 minute mark thanks to a tough jumper by Martin Graham.
CCU would not be denied however, and eventually rattled off a 13-4 run highlighted by a Rye Olson trey with eight minutes to go, giving the Cougars a comfortable 12 point advantage they would not relinquish.
Anthony Urrutia and Abram Ziemer each logged 10 points for the Cougars, while Justin Neuhaus chipped in eight points, 10 rebounds and seven blocked shots.
Lachlan Kirwin led Western with 18 points on 5-9 shooting.
With the victory, CCU moves to 1-4 on the season and 1-1 in conference action. The men are back at it this Monday when they travel to Boulder, Colorado to face the University of Colorado Buffaloes at 7:00 p.m.
Mavericks Remain Unbeaten, Crush Cougars 75-45
December 4, 2009 – The CCU offense went on an early Christmas break Friday evening, as the Cougars scored just 45 points, shot 30% for the game and made only 12 field goal attempts in a 45-75 (box score) dismantling at the hands of the undefeated Mesa State Mavericks at the Cougar Event Center in Lakewood, Colorado.
Jobi Wall was the lone highlight for the ice-cold Cougars, scoring 16 points on 6-11 shooting, including a 4-6 touch from beyond the arc.
The Cougars trailed 22-40 at the half, before stumbling their way to a 25% shooting effort from the field and an uncharacteristic 0-10 showing from distance in the final 20 minutes.
On the other end of the action, Mesa connected on a respectable 50% from the field, and forced 20 CCU turnovers.
Justin Neuhaus was the only other Cougar to reach double digits in the scoring column, as the 6-11 senior went 2-4 from floor and 8-11 from the charity stripe to finish with 12 points and seven rebounds.
Lance Fite paced the Mavericks with 15 points and five boards, while shooting 5-7 from the field.
With the loss, the Cougars drop to 0-4 on the season and are back in action Saturday evening as they host the Western State Mountaineers at 7:00 p.m.
Cold Shooting Cougars Tumble at Idaho State
November 21, 2009 – The CCU men’s basketball team shot a frosty 36% from the floor and 24% from beyond the arc in a 60-77 (box score) loss Saturday afternoon to the Division I Idaho State Bengals in Pocatello, Idaho.
The Cougars were playing catch-up the entire contest, trailing 23-34 at the half, before eventually cutting the deficit to six points at the 11 minute mark on a pair of Justin Neuhaus free throws.
Just when the Cougars looked to be in business, Idaho State ran the margin back up to 11 on a series of free throws and eventually pulled ahead by as many as 19 with time running down.
Neuhaus led the way for CCU with 23 points, five rebounds, three assists and a stellar 15-16 effort at the charity stripe.
Abram Ziemer added 12 points on 5-10 shooting in the loss.
The Bengals were paced by Amorrow Morgan’s 25 points, with Demetrius Monroe adding a double-double with 12 points and 12 boards.
Still searching for their first win of the season, the Cougars return to the friendly confines of the CCU Event Center to open up conference play on December 4 when they take on Mesa State College at 8:00 p.m.
Jackson’s Layup Lifts Billings in Final Seconds
November 18, 2009 – DaVell Jackson’s 17th point of the game came at an opportune time for Montana State-Billings, as the senior guard converted a layup with four seconds remaining to lift the Yellowjackets to a 72-70 win over the CCU men’s basketball team Wednesday evening in Billings, Montana.
Leading 41-35 at the break, the Yellowjackets managed to increase the margin to as many as nine points midway through the final period.
With time beginning to run short, the Cougars cut the lead down to five on a Jobi Wall jumper at the three minute mark.
Following a blown layup on the Billings end, the CCU long-balls began to finally find their mark, as Rye Olson downed a trey with 1:19 showing to bring the Cougars to within one point.
A Yellowjacket jumper on the other end increased the margin back to four, but this time it was Wall dialing long distance to bring the Cougars back to within one with 49 ticks to go.
Not to be outdone, Billings managed to convert two at the freebie stitch on the ensuing possession, before yet another Wall trifecta silenced the crowd and knotted the action up at 70 each with 19 seconds on the clock.
19 seconds was just a little too much time to hold down a potent Yellowjacket offense however, as Jackson was able to break free for the game winner with time winding down.
Justin Neuhaus once again led the way for CCU with 19 points, six rebounds and one blocked shot.
Wall added 19 and seven, while shooting a perfect 6-6 from the charity stripe.
Olson finished the duel with 18 points, including a red-hot 6-11 effort from downtown.
Jackson’s 17 proved to be a team-high for Billings, with Derrick Wright tacking on 15 points, three rebounds, two assists and two blocks in the victory.
With the setback, the Cougars drop to 0-2 on the season and are back in action this Saturday as they travel to Pocatello, Idaho to face the Idaho State Bengals at 1:05 p.m.
Late Run Lifts Montana State over Cougars 68-58
November 17, 2009 – The Montana State Bobcats used a 10-4 run late in the second half to gain a little breathing room and eventually hold off a gritty CCU men’s basketball team 68-58 at Worthington Arena in Bozeman, Montana.
CCU’s powerful pair of post performers tipped the season off in style, as Justin Neuhaus logged a team-best 19 points and two blocks, while Jobi Wall tacked on 13 points, three rebounds and two assists in the loss.
The Cougars jumped out to an early six point lead over the Division I Bobcats, and went into intermission trailing by only three points (32-35), following a see-saw first half battle that featured eight lead changes and seven ties.
Heading out for the final 20 minutes, CCU managed to cut the deficit back down to two points on a handful of occasions, before five buckets over seven possessions finally allowed the Bobcats to gain some space and extend the margin to10 with eight minutes showing.
From that point on, the closest the Cougars could claw back would be seven points, as the hosts eventually escaped with the 10 point decision.
MSU’s Erik Rush led all players with 25 points to go with six boards, while shooting a nifty 8-11 from the floor.
CCU’s Abram Ziemer came off the bench to add 11 points on a 3-8 shooting display from deep.
The Cougars are right back in action tomorrow evening as they square off against Montana State-Billings at 7:30 p.m.
Division I Weber State Holds off Cougars in Exhibition
November 7, 2009—The Weber State Wildcats had their hands full with a feisty CCU men’s basketball team Saturday evening, recovering from a half time deficit to pull out a 75-65 exhibition win over the Cougars at the Dee Events Center in Ogden, Utah.
Some stifling Cougar defense forced Weber to shoot a chilly 12-31 from the field in the first half, while super-sophomore Jobi Wall, lit the Wildcats up for a 4-6 display from downtown.
Trailing 31-32 at intermission, Weber was able to use a 17-5 second half run to pull ahead and eventually escape with the hard-fought 10 point decision.
CCU committed 21 turnovers on the contest, but out-rebounded the Wildcats 37-29.
Justin Neuhaus led the way for the Cougars with a game-best 22 points, to go with nine rebounds, three assists and a blocked shot.
Held scoreless in the second stanza, Wall finished with 12 points and nine rebounds for CCU.
Abram Ziemer got his Cougar career started in style, scoring 14 points in 26 minutes of action.
With the brief exhibition season behind them, CCU now looks ahead to the regular season opener on November 17 at Montana State University. Tipoff is slated for 7:00 p.m.
Cougars Picked Second, Neuhaus All-RMAC in Preseason Polls
October 29, 2009 – The CCU men’s basketball team has been picked second in the RMAC East Division 2009 preseason poll, while 6-11 senior Justin Neuhaus, was selected as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and the unanimous RMAC Divisional Player of the Year.
The Cougars are coming off one of the best seasons in program history, as the men collected a team-record 21 wins in 2008-09, while advancing all the way to the RMAC semi-finals and the NCCAA National Tournament.
Despite the loss of three key players from last year’s roster, the men return the lethal outside shooting combo of Rye Olson and Tyler House, while 6’7” forward Jobi Wall will help Neuhaus maintain order in the paint.
Heading into the season with tall expectations, Neuhaus has now nabbed his third-consecutive Defensive Player of the Year Award and is CCU’s first unanimous Preseason All-East selection since Brian Stamer received the nod in 2007.
With four Division I foes on the early-season slate, this year’s Cougars squad will waste no time putting their talent to the test. Don’t miss a minute of the excitement as the 2009-10 campaign gets underway on November 7, when the Cougars make the trek to Ogden, Utah to battle the Weber State Wildcats at 7:00 p.m.
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.
Justin Neuhaus
Men's Basketball
Why CCU?
I enjoyed the small Christian environment.
