MESA, Ariz. – Last week's trip to Arizona brought three wins in three tries for the Colorado Northwestern Community College Men's Basketball game which is now 5-0 on the season.
 
The victories for the Spartans came against Scottsdale Community College on Thursday, Chandler-Gilbert Community College on Friday, and Mesa Community College on Saturday. Colorado Northwestern offed the Artichokes by a score of 73-66. The Spartans slipped by the Coyotes, 63-60. Saturday's finale brought a 63-52 margin against the host Thunderbirds.
 
Colorado Northwestern 73, Scottsdale Community College 66
Head Coach Ben Cruickshank's squad opened its trip on Thursday against Scottsdale Community College. A slow start for the Spartans yielded just two points after five minutes, 11 points after 10 minutes, and 17 points with just five minutes to play in the first half. That final span before the break saw CNCC rack up 15 minutes and cut its halftime deficit to 37-32. The break reinvigorated Coach Cruickshank's squad which exploded for 41 points while holding Scottsdale to just 29 second-half points. Even so, CNCC needed every second available to seal the victory.
 
Sophomore guard Tyler Christensen hit a driving layup with just over a minute to play. That afforded the Spartans a four-point advantage. The CNCC defense got the stop it needed in the following possession and freshman guard Elijah Kersey hammered in the final nail – draining a corner three-pointer with 15 seconds to play on a dime from sophomore guard Cole Johnson. Overall, Colorado Northwestern shot 43 percent from long range and 55 percent from the floor. Christensen led the team in scoring with 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting. Johnson added 12 points and Kersey finished touting 11 points.
 
Colorado Northwestern 63, Chandler-Gilbert Community College 60
Barely 24 hours later, on Friday afternoon, CNCC faced off against Chandler-Gilbert Community College. The offense started slow again, but the defense picked up the slack. The Coyotes only managed 18 points in the first period and the Spartans carried a 30-18 lead into the break. However, CGCC battled back and gave the Spartans a fight. With 40 seconds on the game clock and three seconds on the shot clock, Colorado Northwestern was clinging to a two-point lead. Then, Kersey struck again, this time on a pass from Christensen. The freshman's three-pointer held off Chandler-Gilbert and sealed the victory. It capped a contest that saw CNCC shoot 43 percent from behind the arc and 44 percent from the floor. Individual highlights came from freshman guard Carson Forsey's 14 points, nine points apiece from sophomore center Mason Mickelsen, and Johnson, and a trio scoring eight points each. That trio included Christensen, sophomore forward Santiago Casarin, and Kersey.
 
Colorado Northwestern 63, Mesa Community College 52
A showdown with the host Mesa Community College marked the road trip finale for Colorado Northwestern. The Spartans jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. Just 10 minutes into the first half, CNCC boasted a 27-7 advantage. By halftime, that lead had grown to 45-18. For better or worse, Colorado Northwestern went on cruise control in the second half – scoring just 18 points. However, the defense did enough and held MCC to 29 points in the double-digit victory. Johnson polished off a successful road trip by scoring 15 points. Christensen notched 13 points. Kersey tallied 10 points.
 
This coming weekend brings the first of three straight trips to Twin Falls, Idaho. On Friday, CNCC takes on perennial power Indian Hills at 5 p.m. The Spartans face Central Wyoming on Saturday at 5 p.m.

Fans can keep up with CNCC men's basketball on social media at @CnccMbb on "X" (formerly Twitter), at cncc_mbb on Instagram, and on Facebook by searching "CNCC Men's Basketball."