UChicago Triumphs Over Colorado College in Thrilling All-Academic Classic: Highlights & Insights

Four players from the Colorado College men’s basketball team scored in double digits on Sunday, but they lost 73-69 to the University of Chicago in the All-Academic Classic in St. Louis.

Junior Christian Drummond was the standout, scoring 17 points and grabbing three rebounds. Senior Asher Nofziger contributed 10 points and nearly achieved a double-double with eight rebounds. Russell MacFarlane also scored 10 points and added five rebounds and two blocks.

The Tigers shot a solid 50% from the field but held UChicago to just 39.7%. From three-point range, UChicago made 33.3% of their shots, while the Tigers hit 25%. A key factor in the game’s outcome was free throws: UChicago cashed in on 16 out of 23 attempts, while Colorado made just 4 out of 6.

The Tigers led at halftime, with Nofziger scoring nine points and MacFarlane adding eight. They shot 46.88% from the field in the first half and kept Chicago to 38.24%.

In the second half, the score was tied at 45-45 with just over 13 minutes left. Freshman Nick Brashear put the Tigers ahead, followed by a three-pointer from Orion Samikoglu, giving them a five-point lead—their biggest of the game.

However, the Maroons fought back and took the lead with about 8:45 left. They stretched their advantage to 69-61 as the clock wound down. The Tigers attempted a comeback with a quick seven-point run that included a Drummond three-pointer and fast breaks by Terrion Benson and TJ Satcher. They closed the gap to just one point at 69-68.

In the tense final seconds, Chicago sank all their free throws, sealing the game at 73-69.

According to recent statistics from the NCAA, nearly 40% of basketball games are decided by five points or less, showcasing the intense competition at this level. The Tigers have another chance to bounce back on December 13 against the University of St. Thomas, looking to learn from their close loss and improve their performance.



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