LAKEWOOD, Colo. – After building a big lead in the first half, the Colorado Mesa men's basketball team had to hold on late for a 69-58 win over the pesky Colorado Christian Cougars on Friday evening at the CCU Events Center in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.
 
Senior Connor Nichols led all scorers with 24 points on 10-of-18 shooting from the field in 35 minutes of action. The Scottsdale native pulled down seven rebounds and had 14 of his 24 points in the first half.
 
The Mavericks led for over 37 minutes in the game and by as many as 24 points which came at the 1:29 mark of the first half at 38-14 after a Connor Nichols made bucket.
 
To start the second half, the Cougars went on a run to get back in the game. The Mavericks didn't score their first points of the second half until the 14:42 mark on a layin by Kenzo Nudo. Nudo was the only other Maverick in double figures on the night, finishing with 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field.
 
Colorado Christian came all the way back in the second half and cut the Maverick lead to just two points at 55-53 with 5:17 to play in the game after a Braxton Tucker made jumper. They couldn't get any closer and the Mavericks extended the lead in the waning minutes of the half.
 
Colorado Mesa improves to 16-8 on the season and 11-7 in the conference. They continue to hold in the seventh spot in the standings while the Cougars fall to 6-18 on the year, 4-14 in the conference.
 
Colorado Mesa will take on the Regis Rangers tomorrow evening in a crucial matchup that has huge RMAC Tournament implications. The tip is set for 5:30pm.