Senior Asher Nofgizer scored the game-winning shot for the Colorado College men's basketball team with five seconds remaining to defeat Willamette University 74-73. 
 
The lead exchanged hands five times in the final five minutes, including three times in the final minute. CC trailed 73-72 with 33 seconds after the Bearcats knocked down a three-pointer. The Tigers came out of a timeout with 27 seconds left; Nofizger backed down a Willamette defender inside the paint, missed his first attempt, but retrieved his own rebound, and put the ball back up and in for the lead. 
 
"I just thought we had a gusty effort today and I'm just really excited and fortunate to coach these guys," head coach Jeff Conarroe said. "We talked a lot in the locker room about being grateful for the opportunity. This group is a fun group. We got off to a rough start to the season, but they rebounded this weekend."
 
The Denver native finished the game with 20 points, 12 rebounds and three assists. Senior Devin Philio led the team with a career-high 22 points and 10 rebounds. It's the second-double double of Philio's career and the third time this season he has dished out 20 or more points. 
 
Sophomore Ty Hendler followed with 10 points, two rebounds, three assists and a steal.
 
CC dominated in the paint, outsourcing Willamette 46-26, and executed well on the glass, grabbing 19 offensive rebounds for 18 second-chance points, inducing Nofziger's game-winning basket. 
 
"We won on the CC way," Conarroe said. "On glass and defensively, I'm just really proud of their effort. A lot of different guys stepped up and had a big day for us."
 
The Bearcats jumped out to a nine-point lead twice in the first half, but the Tigers eventually battled back on both occasions to regain the lead with 49 seconds left in the half after Scott Ruegg drilled a three-pointer. CC led 37-35 at the break. 
 
In the first half, the Tigers shot only 35 percent from the floor. However, they held the Bearcats to only 25 attempted field goals despite them shooting 48 percent from the floor. 
 
CC's defense really caused a lot of trouble for Willamette throughout the game. The Tigers caused 18 turnovers while only having seven of their own. 
 
Philio had two steals and two assists while only turning the ball over once. 
 
Both teams traded buckets for most of the second half. Willamette gained a four-point advantage with 4:21 left. Nofziger got to the free throw line the next play to cut it back down to 66-64 with 4:00 on the clock. 
 
Nofziger then knotted the game up with a lay-up after Philio made a steal. The Bearcats regained the lead with a basket of their own 
 
The offenses traded scores and leads in the next two minutes before Willamette hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 33 seconds remaining. 
 
After a timeout, Nofziger was able to get inside the paint, grab his own rebound and convert on the put back for the lead and the eventual win when Willamette missed on a buzzer-beater three-pointer. 
 
CC improves to 4-5 and will ride a two-game winning streak into the New Year. The Tigers won't play again until Saturday, Jan. 4, with a rematch against St. Thomas.