State colleges: CC earns spot in D-III cross country nationals

The Colorado College men’s cross country team received one of 16 at-large berths to compete Saturday’s NCAA Division III Cross Country Championship at Highland Golf Course in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Tigers, who went into last week’s regional meet ranked fifth in the West, finished ahead of No. 3 Pomona-Pitzer Colleges and No. 4 Whitworth College to earn the only at-large bid awarded to a team from the region. Pomona and Whitworth also were ranked No. 33 and 34, respectively, in the most recent national poll.

CC finished third in the team standings with 91 points, just two better than Whitworth College which was fourth with 93. Pomona was fiftth with 119 points. Colorado College’s case was bolstered by its Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship on Oct. 31.

“The team is thrilled to be selected for nationals,” coach Ted Castaneda said. “Winning the SCAC championship and finishing ahead of two nationally-ranked opponents impressed the selection committee.”

Football

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said he believes QB Zac Robinson will be able to play Thursday against Colorado after a hit with Texas Tech safety Jamar Wall that flattened both players in Saturday's game.

Women's basketball

Montana State-Billings made 16 3-pointers, setting a new record for most 3-pointers allowed by a Colorado-Colorado Springs women's team, in a 91-57 rout of the Mountain Lions in Billings, Mont.

Mallory Lowe led UCCS with 14 points and seven rebounds in the season opener. Lauren Holm and Caley Fisher each added 11 points, while Jessica Lynch had a team-best three assists.

• Brittany Spears scored 18 points and Sierra graduate Chucky Jeffery had four points, seven rebounds and three assists in 23 minutes in her college debut as Colorado beat UC Irvine 61-56.

Men's basketball

• Tajuan Porter scored a game-high 23 points and Oregon held off Colorado State 68-55 to win the BTI Tip-Off Tournament.

• Will Figures scored 15 points to lead Northern Colorado to a 73-51 win over Southern Utah at the Rainbow Classic.

• Brian Stafford had a game-high 19 points and Andrew Hooper added 18 to lead Denver to a 75-56 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.