Nick Rose poured in 32 points as Colorado College came from behind to defeat Southwestern University, 81-67, on Friday night at Reid Gymnasium.
The Tigers improved to 12-10 overall and 7-6 in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference's Western Division standings, a half game ahead of Trinity University in the battle for third place.
Rose eclipsed the 30-point mark for the fourth time this season.
Brady Ohlsen also came up big for the Tigers, posting his fourth double-double of the year with 10 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Ryan Harty finished with a season-high 15 points, while Jarrell Sweet added 14 points and six assists.
The Pirates appeared to be in control when Robbie Hanley game them a 52-41 lead with 14:12 to play.
But Sweet ignited a 9-0 run by draining a long three-pointer, and then his steals on back-to-back possessions resulted in Harty layups, helping CC pull to within 54-53 when Rose drained a fade-away jumper with 12:17 remaining.
Travis Barber scored five points as Southwestern built a 61-55 advantage with 9:37 to play, but the Pirates would make just two of their last 12 field goal attempts and they also missed their final seven three-point attempts.
Up to that point, Southwestern had made 24 of 45 shots from the floor (.533), including seven of 15 from behind the arc (.467).
Still, SU trailed by just five points when Nick Caputo knocked down a 15-foot jumper with 2:59 to go and had a chance to reduce CC's lead after Rose misfired, but as Collyn Kelley was bringing the ball up court, Rose stole the ball and went in for an uncontested layup.
Colorado College put the game away by making six consecutive free throws with just over a minute to go.
Barber made four of five shots from three-point range and led the Pirates with 21 points. Caputo finished with 15 points, while Jonathan Brown added 10.
Southwestern slipped to 16-7 overall and 9-5 in the SCAC.
Saturday's Colorado College-Trinity game is scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m.
