Box Score Senior forward Chris Martin posted his third double-double in the last four games to lead Colorado College to a 69-65 victory over Cornell College in the opening game of the 2017 Pikes Peak Holiday Classic on Thursday night at Reid Arena.

Martin grabbed a career-best 19 rebounds and also recorded a game-high with 18 points to help the Tigers level their season record at 5-5.

CC also received 16 points apiece from senior guard John Hatch and sophomore forward CooXooEii Black.

Senior guard Eric Houska finished with 15 points, a game-high six assists and four rebounds for Colorado College.

The Tigers led 58-48 after junior guard Edmund Pendleton sank a pair of free throws just past the midway point in the second half, but the Rams refused to fold.

Cornell cut its deficit to 64-63 on senior forward Brad Hund's three-pointer from the right wing with 2:28 to play and a had a chance to take its first lead of the game 43 seconds later, but senior forward Jon Anderson's jumper from the left elbow wouldn't fall.

Black connected on a pair of free throws, and after Pendleton picked off a cross-court pass from Michael Drew, he hit a jumper in the lane to give CC a 68-63 lead with 35 seconds to go.

The Rams trimmed their deficit to three on Hund's layup with 18 seconds remaining, but Houska hit one of two free throws to make it a two-possession game and the visitors missed a pair of three-pointers during the final eight seconds.

Colorado College was red-hot early in the game and built a 22-5 lead when Hatch knocked down a jumper 8:41 into the contest.

The Rams pulled to within 31-29 after freshman forward Cooper Kabela scored with 20 seconds to play in the first half, but a Martin slam off of a pass from Houska gave the Tigers a four-point cushion at the break.

Senior guard Corey Davis scored a team-leading 14 points for the Rams before fouling out with 3:07 to play.

Hund recorded a double-double with 11 points and 15 points for Cornell, which slipped to 6-4.

CC plays host to Hardin-Simmons University in the tournament finale on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.