COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado College used a 14-0 run late in the second half to break open a tight game and pull away for a 71-56 victory over Johnson & Wales University on Wednesday night at Reid Arena.
On a night when CC's three-point shooting was almost as frigid as the temperature outside, senior forward Daniel Webb dialed long distance from the top of key with 6:10 remaining in the game to put the Tigers ahead, 53-51.
"After halftime, our plan was to play a power game since we struggled with our outside shooting," head coach Andy Partee said. "Webb took that shot with confidence. That's what you want to see from a senior."
Thanks to some tenacious defense during the next four minutes, it proved to be the last of 11 second-half lead changes.
"Johnson & Wales got stuck at 51 for a few possessions because we dialed up the defensive intensity and caused some turnovers and forced some tough shots," Partee said.
The Wildcats missed their next seven shots and committed four turnovers before Demetris Love canned a 3-pointer with 1:37 to play, but by then the damage was done.
Chris Lesnansky, who sealed the victory by making four consecutive free throws, recorded his sixth career double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Eleven of his points came in the second half when Colorado College made a concerted effort to rely on its inside game.
The Tigers also got a big-time performance from freshman Mitch Carter, who finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds for the first double-double of his career.
Justin Berardino and Ryan Milne also reached double figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Freshman forward Michael Mitchell scored 10 of his team-high 14 points during the opening half when JWU lead by as many as five points.
The Wildcats led 43-38 after Love sank a pair of free throws with 11:52 remaining, but Colorado College answered with a 7-0 run. Johnson & Wales took its final lead on a David Eichler layup with 6:10 to play.
"I credit Johnson & Wales," Partee said. "They are working to build a winning culture and they played hard the entire game. We didn't respect them enough to be consistent like we were against Whitworth.
"The other team on the court should not dictate our level of play. We have to challenge ourselves to play our best every time we take the court."
The Tigers, who improved to 5-0, travel to Greeley, Colo., on Tuesday, Dec. 10, to play Division I University of Northern Colorado at 7:05 p.m. MT.