DENVER, Colo. – The streak is alive at six-straight games for the Regis University men's basketball team (6-0, 1-0 RMAC) who won their conference opener 95-91 against the Colorado Christian University Cougars (1-6, 0-1 RMAC) on Saturday night.
 
How it Happened: In one of the most competitive battles of the season, Regis and CCU clashed in each team's first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) action this season. The Rangers and Cougars traded baskets for nearly the entire first half. RU held as much as a six-point lead 23-17 at the 10:47 mark of the first half, but CCU fought back to take a three-point advantage into halftime, 40-37.
 
The second half was full of scoring from both sides that combined for 109 total points in the second half alone. Regis opened up with a 12-3 scoring run to take a 49-43 lead after three minutes of play. At the 14:19 mark of the second half, Isaiah Hanson of the Cougars hit on a three-point attempt that gave the visitors a 56-54 advantage. The Rangers responded by going in front 78-71 with a three-pointer from junior Jarrett Brodbeck with just less than six minutes to go in the contest.
 
CCU managed to chip away and eventually capture the lead once again 79-78 with free-throws extending their lead to three at 85-82. Yet again, RU had an answer as freshman Tomas Auruskevicius nailed a three-point jumper from the corner to knot the game at 85 apiece. The Cougars got a layup from Stefan Hackethal to take a 90-88 lead and the next possession seemed as if it would be the deciding factor.
 
Freshman Brian Dawson unleashed a shot from deep and connected with 38 seconds on the clock, giving Regis a one-point lead 91-90 in the final seconds. The Rangers forced a difficult shot and came up with a huge defensive rebound. Dawson splashed all four of his free-throw attempts down the stretch and RU held on for a 95-91 victory.
 
Game Notes: Saturday night was yet another gutsy performance from a team that gives the impression that they will not fold under any kind of pressure. Despite allowing three CCU players to score 23+, Regis countered with five players in double-figures including Brodbeck (22 PTS, 8-14 FG, 6-12 3-pt) and Sienko (9-15 FG) who combined for 44 points on the night. Dawson added 13 points shooting 4-of-8 from the floor and splashing 4-of-6 from the charity stripe. Junior Avonte Nelms (3-7 FG, 2-5 3-pt, 4-4 FT) chipped in with 12 points and sophomore Christian Little added 11.
 
Sienko grabbed a team-high six rebounds and the team shot an impressive 52.5 percent from the floor including 13-of-29 from beyond the arc. The lead changed seven times throughout the night but it was the 42 points from the Rangers' bench that keyed the victory. RU outscored the Cougars 32-20 in the paint, and 42-14 in bench scoring.

Up Next for the Rangers: The Regis University men's basketball team will return to action in the Regis Fieldhouse tomorrow afternoon as the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers (7-0, 1-0 RMAC) make their only regular season visit to Regis this season.