The Colorado College men's basketball team will host its first slate of games in 2025, when St. Thomas and the University of California, Santa Cruz, come to Reid Arena. The Tigers (4-5) look to return to .500 and extend their two-game winning streak. 
 
Last Time Out
 
CC ended a five-game skid by dropping Hardin Simmons (95-76) and Willamette (74-73) on Dec. 19th and 21st. 
 
Against the Cowboys, the Tigers made a season-high 15 three-pointers, and junior Asher Nofziger led the way with 24 points and 14 rebounds. 
 
Senior Scott Ruegg shot a perfect 4-4 from long range and finished the game with 16 points. Ty Hendler, Orion Samikoglu, and Noah Deitch added two threes as the team finished shooting 62.5 percent from long range. 
 
Two days later, against the Bearcats, Nofgizer scored the game-winning shot for the Tigers to down Willamette. The lead exchanged hands five times in the final five minutes, including three times in the final minute. 
 
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. 
 
Player of the Week
 
Nofziger was named the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Week on Dec. 23rd for his weekend performances against Hardin Simmons and Willamette. 
 
He averaged 22 points, 13.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.0 blocks per game, posting his fourth and fifth double-double of the season. It marked the first time he has posted a double-double in back-to-back contests.
 
On the season, Nofziger is fourth in the SCAC in both points per game (18.9) and rebounds per contest (9.1).
 
Strength At Home
 
The Tigers are 4-1 inside Reid Arena this season. Their only loss was to Hanover by four points on Nov. 16th. 
 
So far, at home, the Tigers are outsourcing their opponents 403-357. The second half has been impressively dominant, outsourcing adversaries 223-186. 
 
CC is shooting 46 percent from the home floor and grabbing 40.6 rebounds per game, nearly an eight-rebound advantage over its opponents. 
 
Scouting The Opposition
 
St. Thomas comes into the weekend receiving votes in the national polls and is second in the Blue Division for the SCAC with an 8-1 overall record. The only conference matchup for both CC and UST came against each other back on Dec. 14, when the Celts won 85-67. 
 
UST has three players averaging more than 10 points per game, including Andrew Adebo, who leads the team with 13.4 points per game and the Celts with 7.0 rebounds per contest. 
 
UC Santa Cruz comes into the Springs with a 9-7 record and has won two straight. Last weekend, the Banana Slugs defeated Pacific Lutheran and Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash. 
 
Joseph Espy leads the team with 17.6 ppg and 7.1 rebounds per game. The Elk Grove, Calif native led the team in field goals last year, shooting 50 percent from the floor. 
 
The Tigers went to California in 2024 and defeated the Banana Slugs 73-59. Scott Ruegg scored 25 points and made six three-pointers. 
 
How To Watch
 
All CC home games are broadcast on FloCollege. Fans can purchase a subscription to watch all Tiger basketball games at Flocollege.com.



 
,