It didn't take long for the Colorado College men's basketball team to prove it is capable of playing with just about anyone. 

Nick Rose scored 23 points to lead a balanced offense as CC defeated Division II CU-Colorado Springs, 78-72, in the season opener on Friday night at the Lions' Den.

The victory was Colorado College's first against its cross-town rival since the 2004-05 season when the Tigers swept both games of a home-and-home series. Since then, UCCS had won four in a row, the last during the 2007-08 campaign.

Rose knocked down a pair of three pointers as the Tigers scored the final 10 points of the first half to build a 35-29 lead at the break. CC's lead reached double figures at 41-29 when Jarrell Sweet scored two of his 10 points 1:23 into the second half and the Tigers led 61-48 when the senior point guard scored again with 6:24 remaining.

Cole Smith scored six consecutive points to spark a 9-0 outburst as the Mountain Lions trimmed their deficit to 61-57 with 5:11 to play, but that was as close as they would get.

Despite making just 10 of its first 21 attempts from the charity stripe, CC put the game away by converting on 17 of 18 free throw attempts during the final 4:36. In his first collegiate game, Ryan Harty made seven of eight free throw attempts down the stretch and finished with 11 points.

Jeremiah Waters and Brady Ohlsen were 4-for-4 in the closing minutes and finished with 14 and 10 points, respectively.

Colorado College had a 47-35 advantage on the boards, thanks to Ohlsen, Rose and Harty who had six rebounds apiece. Sweet added five steals.

Jordan McLung drained five of 10 three-point shots for UCCS and finished with 23 points. Smith added 16 points.

The Tigers will attempt to open a season with back-to-back victories for the first time since the 2003-04 season when CC plays Bethany College on Saturday.