The Colorado College men's basketball team dropped its first SCAC game of the season in a tough 82-50 road loss to the University of Saint Thomas. The Celts were receiving votes in the national polls coming into the week and played well with the third-best scoring offense in the conference. 

"Tonight wasn't our night," head coach Jeff Conarroe said. "The long layoff didn't do us any favors, but hats off to St. Thomas, they have a really good team and played really well."
 
CC struggled to shoot the ball well, shooting 32.7 percent from the floor, while St. Thomas shot 51.6 percent. 
 
Dinari Boykin and Scott Ruegg led the team with eight points each; Boykin also had six rebounds, four assists and two steals. 
 
The Celts reached a halftime lead of 49-23, in which CC was limited to eight made shots. CC did shoot 33.33 percent from three-point range in the first half and ended the game, making seven shots from deep. Ruegg led the team, going 2-5. 
 
CC made more shots in the second half but could not make a run to cut the lead down. UST pulled ahead thanks to their leading scorers, Marion Williams and Calvin Williams Jr., who each had 16 points. 
 
The rebound battle was close, with CC grabbing 34 boards and UST swiping 35.

"We just weren't ourselves in many ways. It starts with me, I gotta do a better job getting us ready to play and prepared. Gotta get back to work and get ready for Sunday, another big road test for our team," Conarroe said. 
 
CC will be back at it on New Year's Eve in Shreveport, LA, against SCAC foe Centenary. Tip off is set for 11 a.m. MT.