RANGELY, Colo. – It was a historic night at Hefley Arena on Thursday as the Colorado Northwestern Community College Men's Basketball team took down Salt Lake City Community College for the first time in 63 years of play.
 
The resounding, 80-66 victory was fueled the quartet of Cole Johnson, Mitch Jeppesen, Tyler Christensen, and Arthur Videira. Johnson led all players with 18 points and added five rebounds, three steals and one assist to his game resume. Jeppesen was right behind touting 17 points, three rebounds, two steals, and one assist. Christensen did his part by providing 16 points, six rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Videira finished with a bountiful line of 12 points, five rebounds, and three blocks. Also notable were seven rebounds pulled down by Santiago Casarin which were the most by any player in the game. With the win, Colorado Northwestern improved to 16-7 overall with a 2-6 mark in Scenic West play. Salt Lake City CC dropped its third straight and fell to 15-8 overall and 3-5 in the SWAC.
 
A fast start by the Bruins had the visitors up 9-0 just 3:18 into the game. After a Jeppesen three-pointer and Videira's and-one layup, the Spartans found their rhythm. By the 10:47 mark of the first half, CNCC had clawed back and tied the game on one-handed, hammer jam by Mason Mickelson. That was the first of two ties which served as a precursor to the only lead change of the game. Johnson cashed a driving layup at 4:54 and provided the home team their first lead of the game, and Colorado Northwestern did not look back. A Videira layup in the final second of the period sent the Spartans into the locker room riding the high of an eight-point lead.
 
The CNCC momentum did not wane during the break. Coach Ben Cruickshank's squad surged in the second half and pushed their lead all the way to 13 points courtesy of a Johnson three-pointer. That bucket came with 13:38 to play in the game. Salt Lake cut its deficit to single digits multiple times, but Colorado Northwestern always found an answer. With 1:39 to play, Christensen sealed the game on a driving layup which expanded the cushion back to 12 points. When the final buzzer sounded, there had only been two ties and one lead change, Videira only missed one shot, and the Spartans continued riding the high of the best season in Colorado Northwestern Men's Basketball history.
 
"All the credit goes to this awesome group of young men," said Coach Cruickshank. "They have stuck together through some tough times, but they never quit fighting and just keep getting better."
 
Colorado Northwestern will have some time to enjoy the victory, but face another big challenge soon. The Spartans travel to highly-ranked Snow College next Thursday, Feb. 6, for a 7 p.m. tipoff in Ephraim, Utah. All the action can be viewed by purchasing a membership to the Scenic West Network.

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."