DENVER, Colo. – Despite losing the battle on the glass, the Regis University m3n's basketball team (8-3, 3-2 RMAC) held on and edged out the struggling Colorado Christian University Cougars (1-10, 1-4 RMAC) 71-66. 
 
How It Happened: The score was tied eight times in the game and there were 12 lead changes in a very tightly contested matchup between Regis and CCU. Through the first half, neither team shot particularly well with the Rangers hitting on 44 percent of their shots. The Cougars only connected on 32 percent of their attempts. 


The second half was much better for both teams as the both improved their shooting by eight percentage points each (RU 52%, CCU 40%). After a three-pointer from the Cougars at the 11:47 mark of the second half, Regis trailed by eight points, 47-39 before redshirt-sophomore Michael Bens responded with his only three-pointer of the game. The home team managed to use that three-pointer to put together a run that gave them a 48-47 lead. The lead then moved to nine points after senior Christian Little converted a layup on the fastbreak.
 
With that lead, the game was pretty well in hand for the Rangers as long as they knocked down their free throws in the late stages. They ended up earning a 71-66 after Little was able to knock in his shots from the free throw line. 
 
Game Notes: Sophomore Toni Rocak continues to lead the team in scoring as he finished the night with 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting and a team-high seven rebounds that he shared with Little. Little scored 16 points on 4-of-10 from the field and 8-12 from the charity stripe. Freshman Will Cranston-Lown was the only other RU player in double-digits with 13 points (5-6 FG, 1-1 3-PT, 2-3 FT), despite being the most efficient and missing only one shot in six attempts. 
 
Up Next for the Rangers: This win gives the Regis University men's basketball team a sweet end to the 2019 part of their season. However, there are still two-three months remaining in the season when the team regroups in 2020. The first game of 2020 will be a road matchup at New Mexico Highlands University on January 3 at 7 p.m. The next night, the team will return to Colorado for a game against the Colorado State University – Pueblo ThunderWolves on January 4 at 7:30 p.m.