The Tigers extended their winning streak to three games, their longest since winning five straight at the end of the 2003-04 campaign, while improving to 7-15. CC also avenged a 64-58 loss to the Wildcats nine days ago in Denver. JWU dropped to 1-24 on the year.
Colorado College had an eight point lead early in the first, but let the Wildcats back in the game by turning the ball over 10 times in the first 20 minutes. Johnson & Wales took its first lead when senior guard Ryuji Brumley hit a three-pointer at the buzzer and built a seven-point lead with 16:11 left in the game.
The Tigers took the lead for good when freshman guard Lance Jacobs converted on an old fashioned three-point play with 2:46 to go, and after Keefe extended CC’s lead to four points with a pair of free throws, Brumley cut the lead to 56-55 with 1:56 left.
Senior forward Adam Mares gave CC a three point lead with 15 seconds to play when he scored after pulling down his game-high 14th rebound, but the outcome wasn’t decided until sophomore guard Eric Daniels missed on a desperation heave at the buzzer.
Sophomore guard Nick Rogerson was four-of-eight from behind the arc and finished with 12 points for the Tigers. Senior forward Michael Nash added 11 points and nine rebounds.
Daniels led the Wildcats with 19 points, while Brumley added 16.
Colorado College will close out the regular season when the Tigers travel to Lincoln, Neb., to play Nebraska Wesleyan University on Sunday.