The Snow College men's basketball team shot 66 percent from the field and had six players score in double figures as it earned a 114-56 victory over Colorado Northwestern Community College Tuesday inside the Horne Activity Center.
The victory came in Snow College's first game in Ephraim this season after going 1-1 at the Snow Classic last weekend in Richfield. The Badgers improve to 2-1 overall, while the Spartans fall to 0-3.
CNCC briefly took the lead on the opening possession, but Easton Hawkins answered with a basket in transition following a steal. The Spartans regained the advantage a few minutes later and led 8-7 with just under 15 minutes remaining in the opening half.
A Julian Cuillier free throw tied the game before Dino Roberts Jr. gave the Badgers the lead for good at the free-throw line. Snow College then began to pull away as Roberts and Kobe Jones connected on consecutive 3-pointers. Hawkins followed with another steal, and Davis scored in transition to cap a 10-0 run, giving the Badgers an 18-8 lead.
CNCC cut the deficit to six midway through the half before a three-point play pulled the Spartans within 28-25 with 7:42 remaining.
Snow College responded as Jones made two free throws before connecting from beyond the arc to restore a double-digit advantage. Nash Schroeder then forced a turnover that led to a Brody Thompson basket in transition.
The Badgers continued to create separation as Jones made another 3-pointer before Max Toombs connected from deep to increase the lead to 43-26. Davis collected a steal and assisted Cuillier in transition before Toombs converted another fast-break opportunity.
Toombs added his third 3-pointer of the half with 40 seconds remaining. After another CNCC turnover, Cuillier collected a steal and found Davis for a dunk that sent the Badgers into halftime with a 54-28 lead.
Snow College closed the half on a 26-3 run over the final 7:28. The Badgers forced seven turnovers and scored 14 fast-break points during the opening period.
Snow College shot 59 percent from the field and made seven 3-pointers in the first half. Colorado Northwestern was limited to 33 percent shooting and connected on just one of its eight attempts from beyond the arc.
The Badgers carried the momentum into the second half. Davis scored on the opening possession before Rust finished in transition to push the lead to 30.
Cuillier made a 3-pointer before another Davis steal led to a fast-break basket. The Badgers eventually stretched the advantage to 35 when Jones scored in transition with 14 minutes remaining.
Snow College's reserves continued to add to the lead. Jones connected from beyond the arc before Isaiah Drisdom and Thompson made three consecutive 3-pointers. The final basket of the stretch gave the Badgers an 88-42 lead midway through the half.
Rust scored seven consecutive points later in the period, including his first 3-pointer of the game. Jones followed with his fifth 3-pointer before Roberts connected from deep to push Snow College past the century mark.
Thompson made the Badgers' 17th and final 3-pointer with 4:52 remaining, giving Snow College its largest lead of the game at 110-50. Schroeder scored the final four points for the Badgers to complete the 58-point victory.
Jones led all scorers with 21 points in 13 minutes off the bench. He made seven of his eight field-goal attempts and connected on five of six shots from 3-point range.
Cuillier finished with 16 points, eight assists and six rebounds. He did not commit a turnover in 22 minutes of action. Davis made all six of his field-goal attempts and recorded 14 points, nine rebounds and three steals. Toombs added 13 points and three assists, while Rust and Thompson each scored 11.
Snow College shot 72 percent from the field and 63 percent from beyond the arc in the second half. The Badgers finished the game 42 of 64 from the field and 17 of 34 from 3-point range.
The Badgers recorded 31 assists on their 42 made field goals while committing just eight turnovers. They also held advantages in rebounds, points in the paint, fast-break points and bench scoring.
Snow College's reserves outscored Colorado Northwestern's bench 56-9. The Badgers scored 26 points off 17 Spartan turnovers and finished with a 28-4 advantage in fast-break points.
Defensively, Snow College held Colorado Northwestern to 32 percent shooting and 20 percent from beyond the arc. The Spartans scored 28 points in each half and did not make consecutive field goals during the final 12 minutes.
Snow College will now travel to Iowa for a pair of games. The Badgers will face No. 8 Indian Hills Community College Friday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. CST before taking on Sauk Valley Community College Saturday, Nov. 7, at 10 a.m. Both games will be played inside the Hellyer Center. For video streaming and live stats information, visit snowbadgers.com.
