Men's Basketball Win Colorado Tourney
Nov 29, 2014
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The host Colorado College Tigers battled the University of Dubuque men's basketball team until the final minute of the 2014 Colorado College Tournament, but the Spartans remained a perfect 6-0 with a 77-68 victory. UD led at halftime 33-31, but the Tigers attacked in the second half and closed to within a point with 5:34 left in game. The Spartans fought each advance and increased the lead to seven points after a Gage Heffernan steal and thundering dunk at 3:35. The Tigers rallied back connecting on a three pointer and a pair of free throws to narrow lead to within a bucket with less than three minutes to play. UD would sink their last 7-8 free throw attempts to extend the lead to nine in the final minute.
It was UD's third road tournament in the past three consecutive weekends and the Spartans would finish the same with it's sixth win of the 2014 season. The Spartans out scored Colorado College in the paint 38-32, but gained the advantage in second chance points 19-8. UD committed 22 team turnovers and Colorado College would make the most of it by scoring 31 of their 68 points off the Spartans mistakes. UD dominated rebounding by crashing the glass for 45 boards and held the Tigers to 28.
Heffernan led all scorers with 28 points after making 9-14 shot attempts from the field and shooting 90% from the free throw line (9-10 attempts). Brandon Ferguson and Jacob Mohlis both had 11 points. Andre Norris led all rebounders with 10, including nine defensive rebounds. All eight Spartans who played in the game scored and the lead swapped just twice. Heffernan would end the weekend averaging 18.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg, and made 12-13 free throws (92.3%).
The Spartans (6-0 overall) host the Clarke University Crusaders on Dec. 4 on Jon Davison Court in Stoltz Sports Center at 7:00 p.m. Clarke (2-7 overall) lost to Coe College on Saturday night 85-78.
