COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — The University of St. Thomas Celts overcame both the high altitude and a fierce challenge from Colorado College, securing a 73-70 victory. With the win, St. Thomas advances to 9-1 overall and 2-0 in the conference, continuing their strong start to the season. 

The first half was a tight contest, with both teams exchanging baskets. At the 13-minute mark, the Celts gained a brief upper hand, going on a 9-0 run fueled by three-pointers from Andrew Adebo, Ricky Altamirano, and Reyce Allen. This run gave St. Thomas a 22-12 lead. However, Colorado College fought back, cutting the deficit to just 24-18. The Celts responded with offensive sparks, including a three-pointer from Altamirano and a layup from Angel Johnson, helping push the lead to 32-24. But the Tigers chipped away and evened things up at 32-32, heading into halftime. 

The second half mirrored the first in terms of back-and-forth scoring. Early on, a free throw from Colorado College gave them their first lead of the night, putting the Tigers up 38-37. This sparked an 8-0 run, and the Celts found themselves trailing 43-37. But St. Thomas regrouped and fought back, with Nathan Kongolo hitting a driving layup and Marion Williams connecting on a three-pointer to tie the game at 43. Both teams battled relentlessly, and the lead changed hands 11 times in the second half. 

With 7 minutes remaining, Colorado College took a 60-57 lead, but the Celts responded quickly. Angel Johnson made a layup and hit a free throw to tie the game at 60. From there, the teams continued to exchange buckets. With just under 4 minutes left, St. Thomas took a 67-64 lead and maintained their composure in the final moments, securing the win. 

Angel Johnson led the way for the Celts, scoring a season-high 30 points, including 11-13 from the free-throw line and 9 rebounds. Andrew Adebo added 12 points and three assists, while Ricky Altamirano contributed 12 points, including a 4-5 from beyond the arc. 

Up Next: 

The Celts will be back in action tomorrow as they face UC Santa Cruz for a non-conference matchup in Colorado. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 PM. Stay updated on  UST basketball by following @ustmbasketball on Instagram or visiting ustcelts.com.